Gangs smuggle stolen mobiles to Nepal, B’desh to dodge CEIR tracking | Hyderabad News
Hyderabad: An increasing number of stolen mobile phones from India are landing up in two thriving international markets: Nepal and Bangladesh. With the successful implementation of the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR), desi mobile thieves are smuggling out their loot to these neighbouring countries, say cops.
This came to light recently after Rachakonda police cracked down on a gang from Rajasthan for stealing mobiles worth Rs 15 lakh from electronics stores in Hyderabad.
The CEIR is a system developed by the Union govt to trace lost mobile phones with inter-state coordination. It was launched in 2023. However, the system can work only on Indian networks and cannot track down a phone once it is outside the country.
To dodge this system, the four accused – identified as Prabhat Singh, Nepal Singh, Tharun Pal Singh, and Parveen Singh – were allegedly planning to sneak the stolen phones out to the two countries, cops said. The gang, arrested on Feb 8, was being led by a fugitive, Chottu.
“They all are from Rajasthan. Recently, the gang came to Hyderabad and started working — some as auto-rickshaw drivers and some in a cosmetic store. In the night, they used to do a recce of prospective gadget stores. Then, at an opportune time, they would break into them and steal the stock,” said a source from Rachakonda police.
Chottu, who has an auto-rickshaw, would park the vehicle close to the scene of crime. The gang would flee from the spot in his vehicle.
In the recent offences that took place in Meerpet and two other stores nearby, the accused decamped with 68 phones, 18 smartphones, 8 television sets, mobile phone chargers, and some other gadgets.
“After loading the auto-rickshaw with gadgets, they would first escape to their room. Subsequently, they would transfer the loot to Rajasthan. Then, they would sell the phones to some other people who would smuggle them to other countries. Once it is outside the country, it is difficult for policemen to trace them through CEIR as they get connected to a foreign network,” the source said.
This came to light recently after Rachakonda police cracked down on a gang from Rajasthan for stealing mobiles worth Rs 15 lakh from electronics stores in Hyderabad.
The CEIR is a system developed by the Union govt to trace lost mobile phones with inter-state coordination. It was launched in 2023. However, the system can work only on Indian networks and cannot track down a phone once it is outside the country.
To dodge this system, the four accused – identified as Prabhat Singh, Nepal Singh, Tharun Pal Singh, and Parveen Singh – were allegedly planning to sneak the stolen phones out to the two countries, cops said. The gang, arrested on Feb 8, was being led by a fugitive, Chottu.
“They all are from Rajasthan. Recently, the gang came to Hyderabad and started working — some as auto-rickshaw drivers and some in a cosmetic store. In the night, they used to do a recce of prospective gadget stores. Then, at an opportune time, they would break into them and steal the stock,” said a source from Rachakonda police.
Chottu, who has an auto-rickshaw, would park the vehicle close to the scene of crime. The gang would flee from the spot in his vehicle.
In the recent offences that took place in Meerpet and two other stores nearby, the accused decamped with 68 phones, 18 smartphones, 8 television sets, mobile phone chargers, and some other gadgets.
“After loading the auto-rickshaw with gadgets, they would first escape to their room. Subsequently, they would transfer the loot to Rajasthan. Then, they would sell the phones to some other people who would smuggle them to other countries. Once it is outside the country, it is difficult for policemen to trace them through CEIR as they get connected to a foreign network,” the source said.
