Latest news with #BenlaiPan
Hindustan Times
18-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Chinese gang that stole from passengers on international flights busted in Delhi
Delhi Police on Saturday said it had busted a Chinese gang that stole cash, payment cards, and other valuables from passengers mid-flight, with the arrest of a Chinese national aboard an Air India flight from Hong Kong to Delhi. Police said they had arrested Benlai Pan, 30, a resident of Henan in Hong Kong. His associates Meng Guangyang, 51, Chang Mang, 42, and Liu Jie, 45, have also been apprehended. The accused are part of a syndicate that targets passengers on international flights to steal their valuables, police said. 'On May 14, the Security and Vigilance team of Air India at Indira Gandhi International Airport's Terminal 3 alerted us about suspicious activity on board an incoming flight. Four Chinese nationals, including Pan, were detained after multiple passengers reported thefts during the journey,' said a police officer associated with the case. Prabhat Verma, a passenger, told cabin crew that his Bank of America credit card was missing. 'Cabin crew had earlier warned him about suspicious movements around his overhead baggage. The card was later found under Seat 14C, where Pan was sitting despite being assigned Seat 23C,' a second police officer said. Another passenger, Prashi, reported the theft of her mother's HDFC debit card. A third passenger, Nafeez Fatima, submitted a video recording allegedly showing Pan looking through her cabin baggage. Additional Commissioner of Police (IGI Airport) Usha Rangnani said police coordinated with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and airline staff to secure surveillance footage, passenger statements, and seize digital and physical evidence from the accused. 'Benlai Pan confessed to being part of a syndicate that books international transit flights specifically to exploit sleeping passengers and cabin vulnerabilities mid-flight. Their modus operandi included scattering gang members across the aircraft to avoid suspicion, targeting unattended baggage during flights, and then disposing of stolen cards to avoid traceability,' Rangnani said. Police said they are analysing travel data and contacting international agencies to determine the syndicate's global footprint. 'Alerts have been issued to immigration and airport security teams nationwide, and we are liaising with Chinese authorities for background checks,' the officer said.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Time of India
Chinese national arrested for thefts in flights on long routes, three others detained
New Delhi: A Chinese national was arrested for organised and three other Chinese nationals were detained for questioning. Police investigations revealed that the arrested individual was part of a group targeting in which they stole cash, electronics, credit cards, etc., Tired of too many ads? go ad free now from the unsupervised luggage of sleeping passengers. Their strategy exploited long-duration, high-traffic international flights, making it harder to notice the thefts. The accused, Benlai Pan, 30, a resident of Hong Kong, was apprehended after Air India's security and vigilance team alerted Delhi Police on May 14 about suspicious activity on the airline's flight AI-315 from Hong Kong to New Delhi. Passengers had complained about theft during the flight. Police teams met Air India staff and passengers at Indira Gandhi International Airport's Terminal 3 arrival hall. Passenger Prabhat Verma told the cops that the cabin crew warned him of suspicious movements near his overhead baggage. Upon inspection, he discovered his credit card was missing and noticed a suspicious individual, later identified as Benlai, sitting in a seat not assigned to him. The missing card was found nearby. Another passenger, Prashi, too found her mother's debit card missing. Another vigilant passenger provided video footage showing Benlai opening cabin baggage items and inspecting the contents. Benlai was accompanied by three other Chinese nationals — Meng Guangyang, 51, Chang Mang, 42, and Liu Jie, 45. The authorities are liaising with the embassies concerned to verify their backgrounds and determine whether they were involved in similar crimes worldwide. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now During interrogation, Benlai confessed to being part of a sophisticated syndicate targeting transit flights. The group's strategy involved booking long transit flights to access unsupervised cabin luggage over extended periods. They sat in different section of the aircraft avoid being identified as a coordinated group, thus minimising the risk of being noticed. Their primary tactic was to target sleeping passengers, carefully opening bags to steal high-value items like cash, electronics and credit cards. When cards were stolen, the group used them and immediately discarded them to make detection harder. The syndicate specifically targeted high-traffic international routes, exploiting long-duration flights where passengers were fatigued and less vigilant. This allowed them to carry out thefts with relative ease, moving unnoticed in crowded cabins. A credit card, several bags, wallets and electronics were recovered from the men and they are under further scrutiny. Usha Rangnani, additional CP (IGI), said, "Benlai has been arrested, while the involvement of his three associates are being investigated. Travel data over the past 12 months is being analysed to connect the group with similar unsolved in-flight thefts." Alerts have been issued to immigration and airport authorities across the country and global enforcement agencies have been contacted to determine whether this group is a part of a larger .
Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Indian Express
Chinese national arrested at Delhi airport for ‘stealing credit cards of passengers'
A Chinese man was arrested at Delhi's IGI Airport on Wednesday for allegedly stealing debit and credit cards from passengers during an international flight. Three of his associates, all Chinese nationals, were also detained, the police said. The accused were identified as Benlai Pan, 30, and his associates Meng Guangyang, 51, Chang Mang, 42, and Liu Jie, 45. The arrest came after the police received a tip-off from the Security and Vigilance team of Air India after suspicious activity was reported on board its flight AI-315 from Hong Kong to New Delhi. Officers said passenger Prabhat Verma, seated at 12C, was alerted by the cabin crew to unusual movement around his overhead baggage, following which he discovered his Bank of America credit card missing. It was later found under seat 14C. The seat was occupied by Benlai Pan, who was not assigned there but had a ticket for seat 23C, officers said. Another passenger, Prashi, seated at 14A, reported that her mother's HDFC debit card was missing. A third passenger, Nafeez Fatima, provided a video capturing Pan opening cabin baggage and inspecting personal belongings, the police said. Pan and his associates were questioned. Meanwhile, a police team coordinated with Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and airline security, analysed surveillance footage, secured cabin crew statements, and examined digital evidence. Immigration records and past travel data of the accused are being reviewed. 'During interrogation, Pan confessed that he and his accomplices were part of a coordinated syndicate operating on international transit flights. Their tactics included booking transit flights with longer durations to maximise access to unsupervised cabin luggage,' said Usha Rangnani, Additional Commissioner of Police, IGI Airport. 'They would spread group members across different seats to avoid detection as a coordinated unit. They would target sleeping passengers, carefully open their bags, and extract high-value items and cards. They would then discard the cards after attempting misuse, making detection harder. The group deliberately used flights between high-traffic international routes, exploiting long-duration flights and cabin fatigue,' the ACP added. The police have so far recovered a Bank of America credit card found at seat 14C, along with several bags, wallets, and electronic items currently under investigation. Benlai Pan has been arrested, while further inquiry continues against his three companions, the police said. Authorities are examining travel records from the past year to trace connections to other unresolved cases. Alerts have been issued across airports in India, and international enforcement agencies have been contacted to explore the possibility of a broader theft syndicate.
The Hindu
17-05-2025
- The Hindu
Chinese national held for in-flight theft, suspected to be part of global syndicate
A Chinese national, suspected to be a member of an organised global in-flight theft syndicate, has been arrested for allegedly stealing debit and credit cards from fellow passengers during a flight from Hong Kong to New Delhi, police said on Saturday (May 17, 2025). The accused, 30-year-old Benlai Pan, was arrested upon arrival at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport on May 14 following complaints from multiple passengers aboard Air India flight AI-315, they said in an official statement. Pan was travelling with three other Chinese nationals — 51-year-old Meng Guangyang, 42-year-old Chang Mang, 45-year-old and Liu Jie — all of whom were detained and questioned, officials said. According to authorities, the group is suspected to be operating together as part of an international in-flight theft racket. "Air India's security team alerted the IGI Airport police about suspicious activities involving four Chinese nationals on the flight. One of the passengers, Prabhat Verma, who was seated at 12C, reported that a credit card had gone missing from his bag," Additional Commissioner of Police (IGI) Usha Rangnani said in an official statement. "Verma also pointed out suspicious behaviour by a passenger seated at 14C, who was ticketed for seat 23C," the statement said. The missing credit card was later recovered from beneath seat 14C, where Pan was found seated, she said. Another passenger, Prashi, reported that her mother's debit card had also gone missing. A third passenger, Nafeez Fatima, provided a video showing Pan allegedly opening overhead bins and rummaging through cabin baggage during the flight, the officer said. During interrogation, Pan confessed that they booked long-haul international transit flights to target sleeping passengers and access unattended cabin luggage. The group spread themselves across the cabin to avoid suspicion and discarded stolen cards after attempting to use them, she added. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the IGI Airport police station, police said. Mobile phones, wallets, and other belongings of the suspects have been seized for forensic examination. International coordination is underway to investigate their possible involvement in similar incidents globally, they further said. While Benlai Pan has been arrested, the roles of his three associates are under scrutiny. Immigration authorities across the country have been alerted, and liaison has been established with embassies and global law enforcement agencies, police added.
Deccan Herald
17-05-2025
- Deccan Herald
Chinese national held for in-flight theft, suspected to be part of global syndicate
The accused, 30-year-old Benlai Pan, was arrested upon arrival at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport here on May 14 following complaints from multiple passengers aboard Air India flight AI-315, they said in an official statement.
