The Delhi Police have cracked down on an international mobile theft syndicate, arresting a 24-year-old man named Abdush, who was caught attempting to smuggle 48 high-end stolen mobile phones worth Rs 20 lakh to Bangladesh. The arrest, made near Salimgarh Bypass following a tip-off, marks a significant breakthrough in curbing organized crime spanning Delhi-NCR, West Bengal, and beyond, authorities said on Sunday.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Aditya Gautam revealed that the syndicate operates through well-coordinated gangs targeting commuters in crowded areas like metro stations, buses, and markets across Delhi-NCR. “These stolen phones are swiftly moved out of Delhi to evade tracking by law enforcement,” he explained. Abdush purchased the devices at a meager Rs 2,000-3,000 each from local thieves, transporting them to West Bengal, where they were refurbished and sold in Bangladesh for Rs 8,000-10,000 per unit, reaping substantial profits.

During interrogation, Abdush confessed to smuggling over 800 stolen phones in the past 18 months. Initially a scrap trader, he was drawn into the illegal trade by operators Sameer and Salim, whose identities have triggered a broader investigation. The Delhi Police Cyber Cell is now working to trace his associates and dismantle the network, which relies on intricate smuggling routes across state and national borders. “This is a sophisticated operation, and we’re determined to uncover every link,” Gautam added.

The seizure of the 48 phones, all high-end models, underscores the scale of the syndicate’s activities. Police are intensifying efforts to map the smuggling pathways and identify key players in West Bengal and Bangladesh. Further investigations are ongoing, with authorities hopeful that this arrest will disrupt a lucrative criminal enterprise preying on unsuspecting victims in the capital region.