Sat Sep 06 19:31:57 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing and rewriting the provided text, suitable for The Hindu:

**Headline: Chinese Cybercrime Network Busted in Tamil Nadu: SIM Box Scheme Exposed**

**Chennai, September 7, 2025:** The Cyber Crime Wing of the Tamil Nadu Police has uncovered a sophisticated cyber fraud operation involving a Chinese network utilizing SIM boxes across the state. The scheme, which bypasses standard telecommunications protocols to route international calls as local ones, is linked to cyber scam centers operating in Southeast Asian countries including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

Authorities have arrested six individuals across Thanjavur, Ramanathapuram, Madurai, and Chennai, dismantling 14 high-capacity SIM boxes. The investigation began following the apprehension of Habeeb Nainam and P. Vinoth, who were found in possession of SIM boxes received via courier from contacts in China. These boxes were used to facilitate Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls for overseas cybercriminals, with the promise of commission.

“Calls from foreign and spoofed local numbers had reduced considerably because of algorithms deployed at the gateways by the Telecom department and telecom service providers. To bypass this, the cyber crime syndicates are now trying to set up SIM box networks in the country. Even blocked SIM cards can be used through them,” Additional Director-General of Police, Cyber Crime Wing, Sandeep Mittal told The Hindu.

The investigation revealed that when the promised commissions were not paid, the individuals attempted to return the SIM boxes. They were then instructed by a Chinese contact to hand them over to Sarath Kumar and his brother Immanuel, who subsequently stored the devices at their residence. Further arrests include a bank manager in Villivakkam and staff members of an Airtel showroom in Sivaganga.

A SIM box allows perpetrators to reroute calls, masking their international origin and potentially enabling various cybercrimes, including fraud and phishing scams. Police are now working to analyze the seized SIM boxes in a controlled laboratory environment to determine their full capabilities and connections to servers in China. “We need to investigate further now. It has to be examined in a laboratory-simulated environment. If it’s activated, it may try to connect with servers in China, and they could attempt to kill the circuit from their end. So, we have to create a test pad — a controlled environment — where the signal should not go out. For that, we’ve already spoken to a few organisations, and they’ve agreed to help us,” Mittal explained.

This bust underscores the growing threat of international cybercrime syndicates targeting India and highlights the ongoing efforts of the Tamil Nadu Police to combat these evolving threats. Previously, the Cyber Crime Police had arrested four engineers who serviced SIM boxes for call center firms, suggesting a broader network that authorities are actively working to dismantle.

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**Explanation of Changes:**

* **Headline:** Made it clear, concise, and attention-grabbing.
* **Lead Paragraph:** Summarizes the key information: who, what, where, when.
* **Concise Language:** Used simpler, more direct language for clarity.
* **Attribution:** Properly attributed quotes to the relevant authority figure.
* **Context and Explanation:** Added brief explanations of concepts like “SIM box” to ensure readers understand the issue.
* **Organization:** Structured the article logically, moving from the overall situation to specific details of the investigation.
* **Removed Redundancy:** Eliminated repetitive phrases and unnecessary details.
* **Neutral Tone:** Maintained a neutral and objective tone throughout the article.
* **Focus on Key Details:** Highlighted the most important aspects of the investigation.
* **Current Date:** Ensured the article reflects the “Updated” date in the original text.

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