New Delhi, June 27: In a major crackdown on an interstate and international mobile phone trafficking racket, the Special Staff of the Rohini District Police has arrested 10 people, including two courier operators, and recovered 325 high-end stolen mobile phones worth nearly ₹1 crore.
According to Delhi Police, the investigation uncovered a well-organised syndicate that smuggled stolen and snatched mobile phones from Delhi to Bangladesh through Kolkata, Malda and Murshidabad, while another network routed the devices to Nepal via Uttar Pradesh.
Police said a sharp rise in mobile phone theft and snatching cases in Rohini over the past few months, coupled with a low recovery rate, prompted a detailed investigation.
Technical analysis revealed that most stolen phones were never reactivated on Indian mobile networks, indicating that the devices were being moved out of the country through an organised cross-border network.
Investigators scrutinised dossiers of nearly 200 criminals, profiled hundreds of habitual thieves, snatchers and receivers, and relied on digital surveillance, human intelligence, courier records, field verification and technical analysis to dismantle the syndicate.
Investigation Led to Larger Network
The operation began on June 19, when police arrested Raja alias Raju, Karan and Govind, recovering 101 stolen mobile phones.
A courier receipt recovered from Govind led investigators to nearly 200 stolen mobile phones that had already been dispatched to Kolkata, providing a crucial breakthrough in the investigation.
On June 23, police arrested Ajay Kumar and Ali Khan, recovering another 100 stolen mobile phones.
Further investigation revealed that a rented flat in Avantika, Rohini, was being used as a warehouse to store, sort, pack and dispatch stolen mobile phones through courier services.
Subsequent raids resulted in the arrest of Rishikesh Kumar alias Dablu, Sanjeev Kumar, Sunny Kumar alias Rahul, and other associates. Police recovered another 124 stolen mobile phones, taking the total recovery to 325 devices.
The investigation also revealed the involvement of two courier company operators, who were subsequently arrested, taking the total number of accused held to 10.
Phones Smuggled to Bangladesh and Nepal
Police believe the syndicate had been operating for nearly one year, during which it trafficked an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 stolen mobile phones to Bangladesh and Nepal.
Digital evidence and courier records have also revealed links with suspected receivers based in Bangladesh. Police said efforts are underway to identify other members of the syndicate and dismantle the remaining cross-border network.
Of the 325 recovered mobile phones, around 150 have already been linked to registered cases of theft, snatching, robbery and burglary across Delhi. Verification of the remaining devices is currently underway.
Police said the recovered mobile phones will be returned to their rightful owners after completion of legal formalities.
The accused have been booked under relevant provisions relating to organised crime, and further investigation is in progress.
Delhi Police described the operation as a major blow to an interstate and international syndicate involved in trafficking stolen mobile phones and said it is expected to provide relief to hundreds of victims whose devices had been stolen.
