Gujarat: Police in the western Indian state of Gujarat have arrested a man allegedly behind a human trafficking ring that has seen more than 500 victims from countries including India being trafficked to Chinese crime syndicates in Cambodia and Myanmar.

According to Thai News Agency, the Deccan Herald, an English-language daily based in India’s Karnataka state, reported that Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi announced at a press conference that the Cyber Centre of Excellence had uncovered a transnational human trafficking and cybercrime ring run by Chinese cyber mafia in Myanmar and Cambodia. This ring lured Indian youths into the cyber slave trade. The mastermind, identified as Nilesh Purohit, also known as The Ghost, was arrested alongside two of his associates as they attempted to flee to Malaysia. This arrest followed the earlier capture of two other members of the trafficking ring.

Police utilized technical analysis to locate and apprehend Purohit. He is currently being held in custody for questioning, with a detention period set for 14 days. The investigation continues as authorities seek to dismantle the network further and rescue victims who have been caught in this transnational crime.