The state cybercrime wing police busted an international SIM box network used to facilitate Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls for cyber scam gangs controlled by Chinese handlers, arresting six individuals on Friday.
Authorities seized 14 high-capacity SIM box setups from Chennai suburbs and Madurai. The arrested individuals include Habeeb Naina (41), Vinoth (31), Sarath Kumar (27), his brother Immanuel, Saravanakumar—a bank relationship manager—and Pandeeswari (25), an Airtel sales staff member.
Police investigations linked these SIM boxes to multiple cybercrime cases across Tamil Nadu, including one registered at the Kancheepuram cybercrime police station. Further inquiries revealed that the devices originated from China’s Hwang Ho district and were operated within gated communities in Kanathur, Kelambakkam near ECR, and Madurai.
A Chinese handler reportedly enticed the accused with commission-based payments to manage the SIM boxes. When payments were delayed, control of the devices was transferred to Sarath Kumar, who, with assistance from his brother, stored and operated the equipment. Sarath also admitted to opening numerous bank and trust accounts with the help of Saravanakumar, employed at Kotak Mahindra Bank, to facilitate large financial transactions without detection.
