The Gujarat Cyber Center of Excellence (CCoE) has busted an international cyber slavery and human trafficking network by arresting its alleged leader Nilesh Purohit alias Neel, also known as ‘Ghost’. Five of his companions, including a couple, were also taken into custody. The syndicate, operating in Southeast Asian countries, targeted Indian nationals, including many from Gujarat, by luring them with fraudulent job offers.
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi, who holds the Home portfolio, said investigations revealed that Purohit ran a global syndicate with more than 126 sub-agents. “He had connections with agents in Pakistan and connections with 100 companies in several countries that supplied manpower to cyber fraud centers in Southeast Asia,” Mr. Sanghvi said.
Purohit was apprehended in Gandhinagar while trying to flee the country. His associates, Hitesh Somaiya and Sonal Phaldu, were arrested along with Bhavdeep Jadeja and Hardeep Jadeja. Sonal’s husband Sanjay was also taken into custody.
According to the Deputy Chief Minister, Purohit is linked to the trafficking of more than 500 people from India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, Egypt, Cameroon, Benin and Tunisia to Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. Victims were lured through social media ads promising high-paying foreign data entry jobs.
“After confiscating their passports, the accused transported the victims across the border into Myanmar via roads near KK Park and Myawaddy Township. They were then forced to engage in illegal online activities including phishing, cryptocurrency scams, Ponzi schemes and dating app scams,” Mr Sanghvi said.
Records indicate that Purohit earned between $2,000 and $4,500 per victim, giving 30% to 40% of the amount to his underlings. “Financial transactions were routed through mules’ bank accounts and multiple cryptocurrency wallets,” DCM added.
He said the Indian government, with the help of authorities in Thailand and Myanmar, conducted joint operations to rescue nearly 4,000 persons. “Many of them have identified Purohit as the agent responsible for sending them abroad. A case has been registered and a detailed investigation has been initiated,” Mr. Sanghvi said.
Officials added that the CCoE has consistently analyzed data, including interviews with rescued returnees shared by central agencies such as I4C, and monitored the suspicious activities of agents associated with these rogue compounds. “Specialized teams were formed for technical analysis, digital forensics, interrogations and field operations. The intelligence gathered helped identify agents involved in trafficking victims to cyber centers in Southeast Asia,” they said.
Explaining the modus operandi, officials said the accused contacted citizens through social media platforms or peer-to-peer referrals with offers of lucrative jobs abroad. Once the victim expressed interest, the agents conducted interviews and arranged for plane tickets and other logistics. Trafficked persons were usually instructed to travel on tourist visas.
“Upon landing at Bangkok airport, victims were picked up by armed Malaysian or Chinese agents and covertly transported – often over remote terrain – to areas of Myanmar where the fraudulent compounds are located,” officials said.
Published – 19 Nov 2025 08:27 IST
