In Hyderabad, the police busted an international smartphone smuggling and cell phone theft gang. They arrested 31 people and seized 713 smartphones worth Rs 2 crore. The group included 15 thieves, 11 receivers, four mobile technicians, and one Sudanese national. The police also confiscated an auto-rickshaw, two computers, and a laptop.
The arrested individuals were involved in stealing phones from crowded areas like buses, bus stations, wine shops, and public meetings. They would then sell the stolen phones to receivers for illegal profits. The receivers would change the IMEI numbers of the phones and sell them as replacement parts at a fraction of the original price.
Following the arrests, the police found 27 cases at various police stations within Hyderabad Commissionerate. The city has experienced a rise in mobile phone snatchings, leading to robberies, extortions, and even a murder earlier in the month.
The receivers would offer advance payments to the thieves to bring them bulk quantities of stolen phones. The phones were then sold to the Sudanese national for illegal export via sea route. The police advised citizens to be vigilant in crowded places and report any theft incidents promptly.
Shop owners were warned against purchasing or selling stolen cell phones or tampering with IMEI numbers, as strict legal action would be taken against them.
