International Cyber Slavery Network Busted: Mastermind Arrested
The Gujarat Police has made a significant breakthrough in combating international cyber slavery with the arrest of alleged mastermind Nilesh alias Neel Purohit, who stands accused of operating a sophisticated human trafficking network that supplied Indian youth to Chinese-run scam centers across Southeast Asia.
According to official statements released on Tuesday, the Cyber Centre of Excellence (CCoE) of CID Crime apprehended Purohit while he was attempting to flee to Malaysia from Gandhinagar. The arrest was announced by Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi, highlighting the seriousness of this international crime operation.
The Extensive Network and Operations
Investigations have revealed that Purohit was running a highly organized international cyber-slavery network with astonishing reach. Police documents indicate he was managing more than 126 sub-agents and had established connections with over 30 Pakistani agents. More alarmingly, he maintained direct links with the HR network of more than 100 Chinese and foreign companies that supplied people to cyber-fraud scam camps.
The scale of this operation is staggering. Purohit is accused of making deals to send more than 1,000 citizens abroad for cyber slavery and had successfully trafficked over 500 individuals from multiple countries including India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, Egypt, Cameroon, Benin and Tunisia.
His trafficking routes extended to Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, either directly or via Dubai. Investigation records show that Purohit had personally traveled to Dubai (UAE), Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and Iran to facilitate this criminal enterprise.
Modus Operandi: From Recruitment to Captivity
The accused employed a sophisticated method to lure victims. They would target citizens with promises of high-paying data entry jobs for popular social media platforms including Telegram, Instagram and Facebook. Once the victims arrived in the destination countries, their passports were immediately confiscated and they were held hostage.
These victims were then illegally smuggled across borders, particularly via the Moei River to Chinese-operated hubs like the notorious KK Park at Myawaddy Township in Myanmar. Once captive, they were forced to commit various cybercrimes including phishing attacks, cryptocurrency scams, Ponzi schemes and dating app fraud.
Those who resisted or failed to cooperate faced severe consequences. Multiple victim statements describe being subjected to physical and mental harassment as punishment for non-compliance.
Financial Gains and Additional Arrests
The financial motivation behind this criminal enterprise was substantial. According to government statements, Purohit earned commissions ranging from $2,000 to $4,500 (approximately ₹1.6 lakh to ₹3.7 lakh) per trafficked individual. He would then distribute 30 to 40 percent of this amount to his sub-agents.
The entire racket involved financial transactions worth crores of rupees, which were concealed through mule accounts and more than five cryptocurrency wallets designed to hide the money trail.
In addition to Purohit's arrest, police have also apprehended his two main associates: sub-agents Hitesh Somaiya and Sonal Faldu, as well as two other accused individuals identified as Bhavdeep Jadeja and Hardeep Jadeja.
A case has been registered at the Cyber Centre of Excellence in Gandhinagar against four accused, including Purohit, for offences related to human trafficking with criminal conspiracy. A local court has granted the CCoE 14 days of police remand for Purohit to facilitate further investigation.
Rescue Operations and International Cooperation
The Indian government, in collaboration with Thailand and Myanmar authorities, has been conducting extensive operations to rescue victims of such cyber slavery rackets. With assistance from the Army, approximately 4,000 Indian citizens have been rescued and brought back via special flights over the past three years.
Significantly, most of these rescued victims identified Neel Purohit as their recruiting agent in their official statements, establishing him as a key link in this international criminal network. The arrest came at a crucial moment, as investigators discovered that Purohit had sent a Punjabi youth to Cambodia just one day before his apprehension.
This case highlights the growing threat of international cyber slavery networks and the ongoing efforts by Indian authorities to dismantle them and bring the perpetrators to justice.
