Three members of an interstate gang that stole costly digital items from cell towers and shipped them to Thailand and Hong Kong have been arrested by police who recovered stolen items value about Rs 1 crore, officers stated on Friday.
Joint groups of the SWAT unit, crime department and Tronica Metropolis police caught the accused, recognized as Adnan Alias Arjun, Amir and Saurabh, whereas they have been stealing distant radio items (RRUs) from a cell tower within the Tronica metropolis space, extra commissioner of police Raj Karan Nayyar stated “We arrested three throughout a joint operation after particular intelligence,” he advised reporters.
Large community throughout states
Police stated the gang focused cell towers throughout a number of states, together with Ghaziabad, Delhi NCR, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Performing on the accused’s disclosures, officers recovered 27 stolen gadgets valued at 1 crore through which 20 RRUs, seven baseband items (BBUs), a radio receiver unit opening machine and a BMW automotive have been used within the thefts, the ACP stated.
“These parts are costly and in excessive demand overseas, which is why the gang was smuggling them abroad for large income,” Nayar defined. In keeping with police, the gang used sea routes to ship the gear to Thailand and Hong Kong.
However, what do RRUs and BBUs do?
The BBU is the core part of a cell tower chargeable for sign processing and sometimes prices between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh. The RRUs join antennas with the BBU and are valued at roughly Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh.
Confessions and provide chain
Throughout questioning, Adnan admitted the stolen RRUs and BBUs have been offered to associates Sonu, Shenawaaz and Javed, who then organized for the gadgets to be exported. “The accused advised buyers that the products have been taken to ports and shipped abroad as a result of market costs are a lot greater there,” the ACP stated.
One of many arrested, Amir, advised police he used to do scrap work and had been jailed in 2023 in a homicide case associated to a land dispute. “I met Anas from Faridnagar inside jail. He launched me to the concept of stealing RRUs and BBUs from towers and promoting them for revenue,” Amir stated in his assertion, in accordance with officers. After launch, Amir linked up with Adnan and commenced focusing on cell towers.
He stated he was paid Rs 70000-80000 per unit, whereas the true worth of every system is between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh. The third accused, Saurabh, a sanitation employee with the Ghaziabad municipal company, admitted to serving to steal gear and handing it over to Amir. “I obtained Rs 20,000–30,000 for every system I supplied,” Saurabh advised investigators, police stated.
Mastermind nonetheless at massive
Police data present that in 2024, greater than 40 individuals linked to the gang have been arrested, and the gang’s alleged kingpin, Javed, had been working the community from Dubai, police stated. He was arrested after returning to India however later launched on bail and is now absconding. “We’re actively trying to find Javed and different members concerned in arranging exports,” Nayyar added.
Investigations are ongoing because the probe widens to trace the worldwide trafficking ring and different individuals who facilitated the cargo of stolen telecom gear.
