Caught Red-Handed: Chinese Tourist Arrested in India for Stealing Credit Cards

Caught Red-Handed: Chinese Tourist Arrested in India for Stealing Credit Cards

A Chinese national was recently apprehended at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi, suspected of being part of a sophisticated international in-flight theft syndicate.

The Suspect and the Stolen Goods

Benlai Pan, 30, was taken into custody on May 14th following complaints from multiple passengers aboard Air India flight AI-315, which had arrived from Hong Kong. Passengers reported missing credit and debit cards, prompting an investigation by the IGI Airport police.

Police authorities said Pan confessed to targeting sleeping passengers and rummaging through unattended cabin luggage on long-haul international flights. The group reportedly spread out across the cabin to avoid suspicion and discarded stolen cards after attempting to use them.

Apart from Pan, three other Chinese nationals were detained and questioned: Meng Guangyang (51), Chang Mang (42) and Liu Jie (45). Authorities are currently investigating their roles in the alleged syndicate.

Video Evidence and a Confession

Crucial evidence came from a video provided by a passenger, Nafeez Fatima, which allegedly showed Pan opening overhead bins and rummaging through luggage during the flight. Another passenger, Prabhat Verma, reported a missing credit card from his bag, and the card was later recovered from beneath Pan’s seat.

A third passenger, Prashi, reported that her mother’s debit card had also gone missing. Pan admitted to the thefts during interrogation, revealing the group’s modus operandi.

International Investigation

Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the IGI Airport police station. Mobile phones, wallets, and other belongings of the suspects have been seized for forensic examination.

International coordination is underway to investigate the group’s potential involvement in similar incidents globally. Immigration authorities across India have been alerted, and liaison has been established with embassies and global law enforcement agencies.