- Advertisement -
ISLAMABAD, Jan 19 (APP):Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police busted organised robbery and snatching gangs involved in stealing expensive mobile phones, tampering with their IMEI numbers and selling them in Afghanistan, arresting16 suspects including gang leaders during a major operation.
A police spokesperson told APP on Monday that the arrests were made by the ICT Police Robbery and Dacoity Unit during a series of intelligence-based operations. He said police recovered snatched mobile phones worth millions of rupees, two motorcycles used in the crimes and five pistols along with ammunition from the possession of the accused.
He said the arrested suspects were wanted by Islamabad Police in 16 cases of street crime, shop robbery and other serious offences, adding that the gangs had also carried out multiple criminal activities in the twin cities.
SSP Operations Islamabad Qazi Ali Raza said investigations revealed that the gangs used to tamper with the IMEI numbers of stolen mobile phones before smuggling them to Afghanistan for sale.
He said efforts were under way to arrest other facilitators and accomplices of the gangs, and further recoveries were expected.
The SSP Operations said Islamabad Police would deal with criminals who deprive citizens of their valuable belongings with an iron hand, adding that large-scale crackdowns against organised and active criminal gangs were being carried out across the federal capital.