Sixteen members of an organised criminal network have been arrested in a major intelligence-led operation, exposing a cross-border mobile phone smuggling racket.
Organised Gang Dismantled in Islamabad
Islamabad Police have arrested 16 members of an organised criminal gang involved in snatching high-end mobile phones, altering their IMEI numbers, and smuggling the devices to Afghanistan. The arrests were made by the Robbery and Dacoity Unit (RDU) as part of a targeted operation, officials confirmed on Monday. The gang’s ringleader was also taken into custody, dealing a significant blow to the network.
Police said the suspects were actively involved in street crimes and robberies across Islamabad and Rawalpindi, commonly referred to as the twin cities.
Recovery of Mobiles, Weapons and Motorcycles
During the operation, police recovered dozens of stolen high-end mobile phones worth millions of rupees. In addition, two motorcycles believed to have been used in robberies were seized. Law enforcement officials also recovered five pistols along with ammunition, allegedly used by the suspects during criminal activities.
SSP Operations Qazi Ali Raza stated that the arrested individuals were wanted in at least 16 registered cases involving street crime, shop robberies and other serious offences in the federal capital.
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Confession and Cross-Border Smuggling
According to police, the suspects confessed to committing multiple robberies and snatching incidents. After stealing mobile phones, the gang would tamper with the IMEI numbers to avoid detection and then smuggle the devices across the border into Afghanistan, where they were sold for profit.
“This was a well-organised operation involving multiple layers, from street-level criminals to facilitators involved in cross-border smuggling,” SSP Qazi Ali Raza said. He added that efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest other facilitators and accomplices linked to the gang.
Broader Crackdown on Organised Crime
The arrests are part of Islamabad Police’s broader strategy to combat organised and repeat criminal activity through investigation- and intelligence-led policing. In recent years, police have restructured their investigative framework by establishing specialised units focused on serious crimes, including property theft, armed robberies and vehicle theft.
Authorities are increasingly relying on centralised criminal databases, offender profiling and crime mapping to identify crime hotspots and dismantle organised networks operating within the city and its surrounding areas.
SSP Qazi Ali Raza reiterated that Islamabad Police would continue large-scale operations against criminal gangs, warning that those involved in depriving citizens of their valuables would face strict legal action.
