An international syndicate involved in stealing mobile phones from Metro stations, public buses, and crowded marketplaces across Delhi has been busted by the Delhi Police’s Crime Branch. During the operation, 48 high-end mobile phones worth approximately Rs 20 lakh were recovered, and a key smuggler, Abdush, was arrested.
The incident unfolded on Sunday, when Abdush, a 24-year-old smuggler from West Bengal, was intercepted near Salimgarh Bypass in North Delhi’s Kotwali. Abdush was attempting to flee with a consignment of stolen phones.
Police officials revealed that Abdush was an essential member of a larger network engaged in large-scale theft, smuggling, and illegal sale of mobile phones across international borders. The syndicate targeted commuters at Metro stations, public buses, and crowded marketplaces in Delhi, stealing mobile phones and quickly transporting them out of the city to avoid detection.
According to DCP (Crime Branch) Aditya Gautam, the stolen phones were not sold or used locally. Instead, they were immediately purchased by smugglers at a low price (Rs 2,000-3,000 per device) and transported to West Bengal. There, the phones underwent modifications before being sent to Bangladesh, where they were sold in illegal markets for Rs 8,000-10,000 each.
The police began investigating the syndicate after receiving intelligence about multiple mobile theft operations across the city. The authorities used a mix of human intelligence, surveillance footage, and digital tracking to identify key players in the syndicate.
After weeks of monitoring, police learned that Abdush was transporting a large consignment of stolen phones. Acting swiftly, they set up a trap at Salimgarh Bypass. When Abdush tried to escape, he was quickly apprehended. A search of his backpack revealed the 48 stolen mobile phones.
Abdush confessed during interrogation that he had been smuggling stolen phones for the past 1.5 years. He was arrested, and the phones were seized as evidence.
