CBI nabs kingpin of transnational cyber fraud syndicate from IGI airport

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested the absconding accused and the kingpin wanted in the transnational cyber fraud syndicate, which was earlier busted in Noida by the federal agency in May, under its ongoing operation Chakra.

On Monday, the sleuths of the central probe agency intercepted the accused at IGI Airport, New Delhi, with the help of immigration officers while he was attempting to board an outbound flight to Kathmandu, Nepal, following which he was arrested.

Advertisement

In May this year, CBI, in close coordination with the FBI, and the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) had registered a case, and subsequently conducted coordinated searches at multiple locations in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

Since the registration of the case, he had been absconding and consistently evaded investigation being conducted by the agency.

During the operation, the probe agency had unearthed a fraudulent call centre operating in Noida Special Economic Zone, and accordingly, the same was dismantled.

According to officials, the said call centre was allegedly engaged in a sophisticated tech‑support scam defrauding citizens in the United Kingdom, Australia and other European Union Countries.

The CBI claimed that the raids had led to the seizure of incriminating digital infrastructure, and the arrest of another key accused who was also part of the syndicate.

The CBI has been very active in fighting cyber-enabled crimes that transcend borders and adversely affect the country’s global standing.

The CBI continues to work closely with the FBI, National Crime Agency (UK), an IT giant and others, to detect, disrupt, and prosecute organized cybercriminal groups under various initiatives launched by the agency, including ‘Operation Chakra.’