A major organized racket involved in converting international calls into local calls to siphon off crores of rupees has been busted in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut. In a joint operation by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and SWAT team, six accused have been arrested, while the main kingpin remains absconding. Given the seriousness of the case, agencies have also initiated a probe into possible international links, including a suspected Pakistan connection.
National Security Threat Identified
During a press briefing held at the police lines, officials revealed that the fake VOIP-based telecom exchange operating in the Lisadi Gate area was not just an economic offence but also posed a significant threat to national security. Investigative agencies are now working to trace the network’s connections with foreign countries and possible organizations.
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Arrested Gang from Zakir Colony
The arrested accused have been identified as Fardeen, Nazim alias Furkan, Faheem, Sultan, Shadab and Rahees, all residents of Zakir Colony in Lohia Nagar. Preliminary interrogation suggests that the gang operated in a highly organized manner, exploiting internet-based calling systems for illegal gains.
Investigations have revealed that to bypass high international calling charges, the gang created a technical setup that converted incoming foreign calls into local Indian calls. This not only caused substantial losses to telecom companies but also impacted government revenue. The racket reportedly routed thousands of calls daily, earning lakhs of rupees, eventually scaling up to a multi-crore illegal enterprise.
During questioning, it emerged that the gang lured individuals from different areas or offered commissions to obtain SIM cards in their names. These SIM cards were then inserted into VOIP-GSM gateway devices. International calls were first routed via the internet to this system and then converted into local mobile calls. To the receiver, the call appeared as a normal Indian number, making detection extremely difficult.
Massive Technical Haul Recovered
A large quantity of technical equipment was recovered during the raid. Seized items include two Wi-Fi Airtel Xstream Air Fiber 5G devices, two fiber routers, 32 external antennas, three laptops, five VOIP-GSM gateway machines, 186 SIM cards, and five mobile phones. Several cables, adapters, and networking components were also confiscated.
Investigators believe that such fake telecom exchanges are not only used for financial fraud but can also facilitate suspicious activities, cybercrime, and even potential terror communications. This is why central agencies have been roped in, and the case is being treated as highly sensitive.
Efforts are underway to arrest the absconding kingpin, with continuous raids being conducted at suspected locations. Meanwhile, forensic analysis of the seized devices is being carried out to decode the entire network structure and identify other associates.
This incident once again highlights how misuse of technology can enable large-scale financial crimes while simultaneously posing serious threats to national security. With the investigation gaining momentum, more critical revelations about the international network are expected in the coming days.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
