Police have dismantled an alleged organised network involved in the theft and cross-border trafficking of stolen mobile phones, arresting 10 accused in connection with the operation. Investigators allege that the network transported stolen mobile phones from Delhi to Bangladesh via Kolkata and to Nepal through Uttar Pradesh. A total of 325 stolen mobile phones, with an estimated market value of nearly ₹1 crore, have been recovered. Those arrested include alleged mobile snatchers, receivers of stolen property, and two employees of a courier company.
According to investigators, the arrested accused have been identified as Raja alias Raju, Govind, Karan, Ajay Kumar, Ali Khan, Rishikesh Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar, Sunny Kumar, Vikram, and Vinay. Police allege that the group collected stolen mobile phones, sorted and packed them, and then moved them through different locations before they were allegedly smuggled into neighbouring countries.
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Police said the investigation was launched following a rise in mobile phone thefts and the low recovery rate of stolen devices. As part of the operation, investigators analysed records of more than 200 known offenders. On June 19, Raja alias Raju was arrested, and during questioning he allegedly disclosed that he sold stolen mobile phones to Govind.
Acting on this information, police arrested Govind and Karan and recovered 101 stolen mobile phones from their possession. Investigators also recovered a courier receipt, which allegedly indicated that nearly 200 mobile phones had already been dispatched to Kolkata. The discovery prompted investigators to widen the scope of the probe.
Further interrogation allegedly revealed that Ajay Kumar and Ali Khan had rented a flat in Delhi’s Avantika area, which police claim was being used as a storage and sorting facility for stolen mobile phones before they were packed for onward transportation. Both accused were arrested on June 23, and police recovered another 100 stolen mobile phones from the premises.
As the investigation progressed, police arrested three more alleged members of the network—Rishikesh Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar, and Sunny Kumar. A further 124 stolen mobile phones were recovered from them. Officials said all recovered devices are being verified against theft and mobile snatching cases registered in different states and districts.
Investigators further allege that two employees of a courier company, identified as Vikram and Vinay, played a role in facilitating the transportation of the stolen mobile phones. According to police, the two allegedly assisted in packaging and dispatching consignments to their destinations. Authorities are now examining courier records, parcel movement details, banking transactions, and digital communications to determine the full extent of the alleged network.
Renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said that stolen mobile phones have increasingly become an important component of organised cybercrime and interstate criminal networks. He noted that such devices can be misused for identity theft, banking fraud, unauthorised access to digital accounts, and other cyber-enabled offences. He added that IMEI tracking, digital forensics, courier records, financial transaction analysis, and inter-state coordination play a crucial role in dismantling organised trafficking networks. Police said the investigation is ongoing and that further legal action will be taken if additional individuals are found to be involved.
