Surat cyber police arrest 3 of gang that trafficked Indians, others to Myanmar

Surat cybercrime police raided a flat in Punjab’s Zirakpur and arrested Nipender alias Neerav Chaudhary of Uttarakhand, Preet Kamani of Rajkot, and Ashish Rana, a Surat-based visa agent. 

The police seized materials of ₹1.72 lakh, including a laptop and four mobile phones.

An international racket of cybercrime unfolded with the three arrests.

According to the preliminary investigation from the WhatsApp and Telegram conversations, the three individuals were a part of an international gang that lured people to Thailand with promises of computer work, and then illegally trafficked them across the border into Myanmar in collusion with Chinese accomplices.

What began as a promise of lucrative employment in Thailand ended up as a part of a cybercrime network in Myanmar for over 40 people from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Ethiopia.

During interrogation, it was revealed that Nirav worked as an HR manager for a Chinese company, while Preet was an agent. They lured unemployed people from India and other countries with offers of ‘computer jobs’ in Thailand.

Once in Thailand, they were handed over to Chinese gang members who illegally trafficked them across the border into Myanmar. There, the victims were forced to operate at call centres after creating their fake Facebook and Instagram IDs, contacting people worldwide, and carrying out online fraud.

The accused confessed they had trafficked more than 40 people from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Ethiopia to Thailand, and then illegally sent across the border into Myanmar.