The Kolkata Police have uncovered a major international telecom fraud network operating through an illegal “Telecom Gateway” in the city. The racket allegedly converted international VoIP calls into local calls using advanced SIM box technology to deceive victims and evade detection.
The operation came to light during the probe of a fraud case involving more than Rs3 crore. In that case, scammers impersonated officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), falsely accusing a victim of involvement in illegal parcel trafficking. By using forged documents and threatening arrest, the fraudsters extorted a substantial amount of money.
Investigators discovered that the calls received by the victim were not regular mobile calls. Instead, they were routed through a SIM box — a device equipped with multiple SIM cards that masks international internet-based calls as local ones. This system conceals the original source of the call, helping fraudsters bypass government monitoring and telecom regulations.
Acting on surveillance inputs and assistance from the Department of Telecommunications, the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate arrested Abir Sheikh in Baguiati on February 14.
Based on Sheikh’s confession, police conducted raids the following day at Patwari Bagan Lane in Amherst Street and another location in Park Street.
During the operation at Patwari Bagan Lane, officers uncovered a fully functional illegal telecom setup. Seized items included active SIM box machines, a laptop, nine routers, 17 mobile phones, 2,250 SIM cards, CCTV cameras, additional electronic equipment, and Malaysian currency.
Police also arrested Mohammad Amjad (38) at the scene.
Investigators revealed that Abir Sheikh, a Bangladeshi national, allegedly operated the illegal call-routing network across Baguiati, Rajabazar, and Esplanade. To avoid detection, he reportedly used virtual numbers and a Bangladeshi VPN.
The probe has also uncovered a Malaysian connection. Detectives suspect that the alleged kingpin of the operation is Biplab Hossain, a resident of Tripura, who is believed to have worked closely with Chung Wei Kiat, a Malaysian national who frequently visited India on a medical visa.
Police said further investigation is underway to identify additional members of the syndicate and assess the full scale of the international telecom fraud network.
