Indore Police identify Chinese handler running Laos cybercrime hub:releases his photo, initiates Bharatpol identification; probe uncovers torture, trafficking and cross-border scams

Indore Crime Branch’s investigation into the Rs1.60 crore ‘digital arrest’ fraud has now uncovered a brutal international cybercrime network operating from Laos’ Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ). During interrogation, the accused identified one of their bosses, a Chinese national named Lizo. Police have retrieved his photo from their mobile phone and have also released his image and uploading on BharatPol Portal for further identification. With the arrest of two more suspects, Saurabh Singh (Vapi, Gujarat) and Patras Kumar alias Kelis (Firozpur, Punjab), a couple of days ago, the total number of accused held in the case has risen to 19. But what initially appeared to be an online cheating case has now widened into a transnational racket involving trafficking, torture, and corporate-style scam operations. Trafficked to Laos, tortured and forced to run scams Both Saurabh and Patras told police that they were lured with promises of data-entry jobs in Thailand but were taken to Laos and forced into cybercrime operations. Additional DCP (Crime) Rajesh Dandotiya said that during interrogation, the accused informed us that they were held hostage, made to work up to 18 hours a day, and tortured for failing targets or making errors. They were kept in dark rooms with hands and legs tied, given electric shocks, and punished with forced physical tasks. he said. Police also confirmed that Saurabh is among the Indians rescued by the Indian Embassy in Laos earlier this year from scam centres in Bokeo province, where hundreds of Indians trafficked by crime syndicates were trapped. A corporate-style hierarchy controlled by Chinese handlers The accused revealed that the Laos-based scam operations function exactly like a corporate workplace. They described a tiered structure: 1. Finders – Track single, vulnerable people on Instagram, Facebook and dating apps. 2. Chatters – Engage victims emotionally and pull them into the trap. 3. Team Leaders – Supervise chatters and escalate the fraud process. 4. Directors – Oversee multiple teams and coordinate operations. 5. Boss – The top handler who controls the entire unit, one of whom they identified as Chinese national Lizo. The Crime Branch will upload his details on the Bharatpol Portal to seek international verification. SIM cards smuggled to Laos to mask identity Before being trafficked, the accused procured more than 350 SIM cards, often using forged or rural identities. These SIMs were then routed through layers of handlers and sent to Laos, allowing foreign operatives to call Indian victims while appearing to be within India. The Indore case: fabricated money-laundering charges The 59-year-old victim in Indore was contacted via Skype and WhatsApp video calls by scammers posing as officials from the CBI, ED, RBI and police. She was falsely accused of involvement in a money-laundering case and threatened with arrest. Under the guise of verification, the scammers gained access to her bank accounts, fixed deposits and share holdings, ultimately siphoning off Rs1.60 crore. A case was registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and a multi-state crackdown began. States linked so far The investigation has now traced the network across multiple Indian states. Those arrested so far belong to Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, indicating the wide recruitment chain built to support the Laos-based operations. According to Dandotiya, the entire racket extends deep into Southeast Asia, with the Golden Triangle SEZ in Laos emerging as the principal command hub for the Chinese handlers directing the scam. Cyber forensics deep dive underway Indore Police have launched an intensive forensic analysis of the accused persons’ mobile phones and digital devices. Officers are examining communication logs to trace chats with foreign handlers, understand the money movement, and identify recruitment networks that trafficked Indians to Southeast Asia. The forensic team is also mapping SIM procurement trails, analysing the scam hierarchy and target system, and searching for torture videos, photos or evidence of confinement that corroborate the victims’ testimonies. A special Crime Branch team, in coordination with central agencies, is now working to establish the full international footprint and dismantle the network operating from Laos.