Ahmedabad Cyber Crime busts gang linked to Nigerian fraudsters, 5 arrested from Jamnagar

The Cyber Crime Branch of Ahmedabad city has arrested five members of a cybercrime syndicate that was allegedly working in collaboration with a Nigerian gang to siphon off large sums of money from Indian victims through elaborate online scams.

The arrests were made under the supervision of senior officials from the Crime Branch and the Cyber Crime Division. The accused were found to have facilitated the transfer of funds from cyber fraud victims to Nigerian handlers through the Angadia network and multiple bank accounts.

The case originated from a complaint filed by Nihar Amarjit Verma (26), a businessman from Maninagar. He alleged that fraudsters posing as representatives of an African pharmaceutical company contacted him online, claiming they were looking for an Indian supplier of Eupatorium Mercurialis liquid — a homoeopathic medicine used in Africa for treating malaria and dengue.

The accused lured the complainant with a fraudulent business proposal, claiming that a fictitious Indian firm, Sharma Enterprises Manufacturing in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, could supply the chemical at $6,500 per litre, which could then be sold in Africa for $11,000.

Trusting the offer, the complainant initially purchased one litre for lab testing through a man named Jaydev, who identified himself as a salesman for Sharma Enterprises, after paying ₹5.52 lakh. Later, when a purported African lab scientist, 'Moshin Murray', approved the sample in Delhi, the complainant was convinced to place a bulk order, transferring another ₹27 lakh as an advance payment.

However, upon visiting Bhilwara, the complainant discovered that no such company existed. In total, he lost ₹32.72 lakh, prompting him to file a complaint with the Cyber Crime Police Station under sections of the BNS and Sections of the IT Act.

The arrests

Based on technical surveillance and human intelligence, a team traced the money trail to Jamnagar, where five suspects were arrested:

1. Azghar Aziz Pathan (43), resident of Jamnagar

2. Abhishek Maheshbhai Joshi (26), resident of Jamnagar

3. Pravinbhai Bhojabhai Nandania (30), resident of Jamnagar

4. Deep Popatpari Goswami (25), resident of Jamnagar

5. Nitin Babubhai Bhatia (26), resident of Jamnagar

Modus operandi

Investigators revealed that the Nigerian ringleaders orchestrated the scam by contacting Indian victims through fake business proposals involving chemical trade. The Indian associates provided bank accounts to receive funds, withdrew the money, retained a small commission, and remitted the remaining amount to the Nigerian gang via informal money channels.

Of the total ₹32.72 lakh defrauded, ₹27.20 lakh was deposited into an HDFC Bank account under the name Kumar Enterprises operated by Nitin Bhatia, who, along with Pravin Nandania, withdrew the amount and handed it to Deep Goswami.

₹9.90 lakh was deposited into another HDFC account under BA Enterprises, held by Azghar Pathan, who, along with Abhishek Joshi, withdrew and transferred the money to Goswami.

Deep Goswami is said to have coordinated the gang’s operations in Jamnagar, maintained contact with Nigerian handlers, arranged accounts in the names of fake enterprises, and ensured the illicit funds were moved swiftly. Police said Goswami received 7–10% commission, while the remainder was remitted abroad.

Prior offences and seizures

Goswami had previously been arrested in a 2021 Nigerian fraud case registered at Jamnagar City ‘C’ Division Police Station under Sections of BNS. Pathan also has a prior record at Jamnagar City ‘B’ Division Police Station under the Gujarat Police Act.

During the raid, police seized eight mobile phones, two chequebooks, one debit card and one SIM card

Investigation continues

All five accused have been remanded in police custody for two days. Police are now tracking the Nigerian link and other domestic associates believed to be part of the racket.

A senior Cyber Crime officer said, “The gang was systematically laundering money from cyber frauds to Nigerian operatives through multiple fake accounts and informal transfer channels. We are coordinating with other states where similar accounts were used.”

Complaints involving the same bank accounts have reportedly been registered in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Chandigarh, suggesting the scam may have a nationwide footprint.

Officials added that efforts are on to trace additional victims and freeze the financial trail linked to the Nigerian network.