Faridpur, Uttar Pradesh — On Monday, Faridpur police busted an inter-state narcotics trafficking racket and arrested two individuals. Three kilograms of opium, allegedly brought from Bihar, were seized from their possession.
Police said the traffickers operated their network using internet calling apps and foreign numbers to avoid easy detection. Initial investigation revealed that virtual numbers generated from countries such as the United States, Dubai, Myanmar, and Nepal were being used by the gang.
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The two arrested individuals have been sent to judicial custody. Police said interrogation is ongoing, and efforts are underway to trace other members of the network.
Expansion of Crime Through Digital Tools
Police officials revealed that the gang may have been involved not only in opium trafficking but also in counterfeit currency and other criminal activities. Active since 2023, the network relied heavily on social media and online platforms.
Expert Opinion
Cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh stated:
“Virtual numbers and internet calling apps have become the easiest tools for criminals. They can be purchased on the dark web or open internet for just a few hundred rupees. The issue is that these numbers are hosted on foreign servers, making it extremely challenging for Indian agencies to track the data or identify the actual location of the calls.
Today, criminals use this technology for everything — from narcotics trafficking to phishing, financial fraud, and counterfeit currency. Until international cooperation and cyber intelligence sharing are strengthened, such networks will continue to resurface.”
Cheap and Easy Virtual Network
The investigation also revealed that such foreign numbers are available online for as little as ₹500, which criminals are exploiting extensively. According to police officials, this has become a new challenge for both cybercrime investigators and narcotics enforcement agencies.
Further Action
Local police said the seizure of opium and the arrests have certainly dealt a blow to the network, but this is only the initial stage of the investigation. Raids may be conducted in other districts across the state.
“This case is not limited to local crime alone. Its links may extend to the international level.”