New Delhi [India], March 14 (ANI): Delhi Police said on Friday that they have busted an interstate illegal arms smuggling cartel in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) and arrested its three key members. The cartel was operating from Nabha Jail in Punjab's Patiala.

Delhi Police said that the cartel was involved in supplying illegal arms in Delhi, NCR, from Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.

The operation was led by Inspector Rahul Kumar and Inspector Vineet Kumar Tewatia under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kailash Singh Bisht.

Delhi Police have identified the three key accused as Aniket, Sourav and Anand Kumar. Five 'effective illegal' pistols were also recovered from their possession.

'A dedicated team of Special Cell, Trans Yamuna Range, Delhi Police, led by Inspectors Rahul Kumar and Vineet Kumar Tewatia, under the close supervision of ACP Kailash Singh Bisht busted an interstate illegal arms smuggling cartel involved in supplying illegal arms in Delhi & NCR from Madhya Pradesh and Bihar operating from Nabha Jail, Patiala, Punjab,' Delhi police said.

Earlier in March, Delhi Police had said that they have busted a gang of thieves who used to target commuters in Metro Stations, buses and crowded markets and then smuggle the stolen devices to neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Nepal.

Delhi Police said that its Cyber Cell, Crime Branch busted an International Syndicate of mobile phone thieves who disposed off the stolen phones from Delhi/NCR to Bangladesh on a large scale and arrested a West Bengal-based smuggler from Salimgarh Bypass, Kotwali in the national capital.

A total of 48 high-end stolen mobile phones were recovered from his possession while he was fleeing to West Bengal. The approximate value of recovered phones is about Rs 20 lakh. The arrested smuggler has been identified as Abdush (aged 24 years), a resident of Murshidabad in West Bengal.

DCP, Crime, Aditya Gautam had earlier said, 'Past investigations had revealed that multiple syndicates of mobile phone thieves are actively operating in Delhi/NCR, specialising in the large-scale smuggling of stolen mobile phones to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal. To tackle this growing menace, the Cyber Cell, Crime Branch, has launched an intensive operation to identify and dismantle these syndicates. A dedicated team was deployed to gather credible intelligence, focusing on theft-prone areas such as Metro stations, buses, and crowded markets, where pickpockets and professional thieves target unsuspecting commuters.' (ANI)