Operation Firewall 2026: Espionage Ring Busted in Andhra Pradesh
AP Counter Intelligence neutralises a cross-border espionage ring targeting defence secrets via honeytraps and social media.
In a massive breakthrough for national security, the Andhra Pradesh Counter Intelligence (CI) Cell has dismantled a sophisticated cross-border espionage network. The operation, codenamed "Operation Firewall - 2026", successfully neutralised a ring of operatives working to steal sensitive defence information from strategic locations in Visakhapatnam and across India.
The Honeytrap Tactics: Social Media and Fake Identities
The investigation, registered at the Counter Intelligence Police Station in Vijayawada, uncovered a systematic pattern of deception. Pakistan Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) used fake social media accounts to target key personnel, employing indecent proposals and honeytraps to extract classified data.
The modus operandi involved two primary methods of deception:
- The Corporate Front: An operative identified as Joshita Pall established contact via Facebook before moving to WhatsApp. Posing as a Mumbai-based ship-building company employee, she targeted individuals to obtain details regarding the movement and numbers of ships and submarines, photographs, and information on Commanding Officers.
- The Psychological Front: Another operative, Anvi Mehta, posed as a Delhi-based psychologist. She targeted Naval personnel through voice and video calls, attempting to induce them to show sensitive areas of Naval establishments, ships, and submarines on camera.
Digital Footprints and Financial Trails
To maintain anonymity and bypass security, the network relied on compromised local networks. These local assets provided Indian mobile number OTPs, allowing foreign operatives to activate WhatsApp accounts seamlessly. The financial aspect of the espionage was equally complex, with illicit payments being funnelled through a combination of foreign cryptocurrency transfers and local traders.
The Multi-State Sting: Operation Firewall Details
The scale of the operation was immense, involving the deployment of 12 specialised teams across 10 States and Union Territories. The coordinated strike spanned:
- Andhra Pradesh
- Kerala
- Maharashtra
- Karnataka
- Gujarat
- Goa
- Delhi
- Tamil Nadu
- Chhattisgarh
- Bihar
Working in close coordination with local police, Naval authorities, and State Anti-Terrorism Squads (ATSs), the teams examined 18 key suspects, including 13 Naval personnel, and seized critical digital evidence.
Arrests and Judicial Custody
The crackdown resulted in the arrest of two key individuals involved in leaking sensitive data and aiding foreign handlers:
- Annam Sai Varaprasad: A civilian contract driver arrested in Visakhapatnam.
- Pradeep Mukharjee: A Naval employee arrested in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
Both accused have been remanded to judicial custody as the investigation continues to unravel the full extent of this cross-border threat.