Surat: Tracking cybercriminals across multiple locations is often a complex and resource-heavy task. However, the Navsari police adopted a smart profiling strategy to streamline investigations and save resources, leading to the arrest of 35 accused linked to Rs 3 crore worth of cyber fraud across 10 high-value cases.As part of their large-scale crackdown dubbed ‘Operation Cyber Storm’, nine teams from the Navsari Local Crime Branch (LCB), Special Operations Group (SOG), Cyber Cell, and local police units conducted coordinated raids in seven districts across Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.Of the 35 people identified in the operation, 28 were arrested, while legal action and notices were initiated against the remaining seven.Speaking to TOI, Navsari superintendent of police, Sushil Agrawal explained that cyber frauds often involve multiple layers of accused, each performing a distinct role and operating from different cities. “In some cases, there were up to four layers of involvement, with the siphoned funds moving through several accounts,” he said.To avoid redundant deployments, the police team profiled suspects involved in separate cases but residing in the same cities. “We strategically assigned teams to cities where multiple accused from different cases were based. This way, a single team could arrest suspects from several cases in one go,” Agrawal added.The police developed detailed profiles and a central database of suspects prior to the raids, ensuring precision and coordination. Raids were carried out in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jaipur and Bharuch.One of the most significant cases most of which were from 2025, involved a cyber fraud of Rs 1.68 crore, with 13 accused spread across four cities — Ahmedabad, Surat, Bhavnagar, and Rajkot. The suspects were apprehended by local police teams and handed over to the investigating officers in Navsari.
