Ahmedabad Police Dismantles Sophisticated Interstate E-commerce Fraud Syndicate
In a significant crackdown on organized cybercrime, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch has successfully busted an interstate criminal syndicate that specialized in defrauding major e-commerce platforms through sophisticated parcel-swapping operations. The operation resulted in the arrest of five key gang members and the recovery of assets and equipment valued at over Rs 20.5 lakh.
Modus Operandi: Infiltration and Deception
According to police officials, the gang operated with calculated precision by first infiltrating the logistics chains of courier services. The masterminds strategically placed their associates as delivery personnel across multiple cities including Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Surat in Gujarat, as well as Jalore in Rajasthan.
The fraudulent operation followed a systematic approach:
- Using multiple fake user IDs and passwords, the gang placed orders for expensive electronic gadgets from major e-commerce platforms like Flipkart and Amazon.
- Before the delivery reached the intended customer, the insider delivery personnel would intercept the package.
- Using specialized tools, the suspects would carefully open the parcels, remove the original high-end products, and replace them with dummy lookalike items.
- Once the original product was secured, the order would be officially "canceled" or returned through the e-commerce platform's system.
- The authentic products were then sold on the black market for substantial profits.
Arrests and Recoveries
The five arrested individuals include Ramlal alias Romil Gahlot (27), Manoj Kumar Mali (30), and Bharat Kumar Sundesha (Mali) (25) from Jalore, Rajasthan; Vishal Hasmukh Panchal (29) from Surat; and Vishal Kanji Bavri from Ahmedabad. Two additional accused, Rishipal Bhati and Vinod (both residents of Jalore, Rajasthan), remain at large and are being actively pursued by authorities.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Ajit Rajian stated, "The gang's strategy was as calculated as it was deceptive. Their systematic approach to infiltrating logistics networks and executing precise parcel swaps demonstrates a high level of criminal sophistication."
Significant recoveries from the operation include:
- 8 authentic mobile phones
- 25 dummy mobile phones
- 3 dummy earbuds
- 12 dummy gaming processors
- 1 camera lens
- 1 electric hair dryer
Sophisticated Scam Toolkit
Police also seized what they described as a "scam kit" containing specialized equipment used in the fraudulent operations:
- 3 glue remover bottles
- 14 plastic syringes for precise adhesive application
- 2 specialized steel tools for opening parcels without detection
- Various packaging materials including Seallotape and parcel rolls
- A Mahindra Scorpio vehicle used for transporting illicit goods
Previous Criminal Activities
During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to at least three previous criminal activities:
- Fraudulent acquisition of an iPhone 17 Pro Max and three iPhone 16 Pro units in Vadodara in January 2026
- Theft of seven Android mobile phones and ten Apple watches in Surat in October 2025
- Acquisition of two Apple watches in Jalore in December 2025
The accused have been booked under BNS sections 61(2)(a) and 316(5), with investigations continuing to uncover the full extent of their criminal network and potential connections to other fraudulent activities across multiple states.
