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In the past 10 months, Delhi prison authorities have recovered more than 300 mobile phones from inmates at Tihar Jail, almost double the number confiscated during the same period last year. The surge has come despite the creation of a dedicated intelligence cell aimed at halting the flow of contraband into the prison.
While seizures in 2024 had dropped to 150-200 phones, this year’s rise has been attributed to ever-evolving smuggling methods. Officials said the increase stems from inmates using thumb-sized “Kechaoda” phones that can bypass jammers and be concealed within soap bars or body cavities. Most of the phones were recovered from high-risk blocks housing gang-affiliated inmates, like those from the Nandu, Chhenu and Bishnoi networks.
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Creativity of Smuggling Methods Uncovered
Investigations revealed sleights of hand: when raids are triggered by specific intelligence, inmates sometimes discard real phones in drains and hand over fake devices made of soap or plastic. Inside the surveillance cell, two staff members have reportedly received threats for their involvement. The intelligence unit conducts weekly operations across blocks, but the adaptive tactics of inmate networks continue to challenge enforcement.
Institutional Response and What It Means
Despite the intelligence cell — staffed by jail personnel, CRPF and ITBP officers — the frequency of new smuggling operations remains high. Disciplinary proceedings are underway for inmates found in possession of phones, and cases will be filed against staff found complicit. Analysts say the rise underscores a broader problem: digital connectivity behind bars is enabling inmates to run criminal operations from inside, challenging traditional security protocols.
This trend signals that smuggling contraband into prisons is no longer low-tech. In the digital age, controlling illicit communication requires far more than jammers and routine checks — it demands adaptive intelligence, deeper auditing and continuous technological upgrades.
