This archive report was first published on 16 December 2019.
On December 16, 2019, BBC Africa Eye exposed a shocking network that traffics women to India as sex workers for African men.
At the heart of this investigation is the story of Grace, a Kenyan woman who bravely went undercover to expose the people involved in the sex trade.
Grace's journey began when she responded to an advertisement for dancers and hostesses in a WhatsApp group. However, upon arrival in New Delhi, she was taken to a brothel where she realized her dream had turned into a nightmare.
Her passport was confiscated, and she was forced to pay off a grossly inflated fee for the facilitation of her travel to India. This is a common practice, with debts ranging from $3700 to $5800.
Women like Grace are forced to have sex with strangers to pay off their debt before they are freed. Even after repaying their 'debt', many find themselves trapped, living illegally in India and having no choice but to continue working in the sex industry.
Every night, gatherings are held across New Delhi, where scores of women parade themselves in front of men, who mingle and chat while being served drinks and African food in underground bars known as 'kitchens'.
The women are from East and West Africa, and the men are African, who can choose the women they like and take them to their homes, an alley, or a brothel, to have sex.
Most trafficked women remain trapped after making the payments demanded of them, with expired visas and no choice but to become illegal immigrants. Many become Madams, forcing women into sex work, or continue to be sex workers themselves.
Grace's story is a testament to the vicious cycle of alcohol and sex that many women are forced into, leaving them wondering if there will be an end to their nightmare.
