Major SIM Box Racket Busted: Police Recover Devices in Multiple States

A joint raid by Odisha and Jharkhand police in Ranchi led to the recovery of five SIM boxes from a vacant flat, part of a recently busted SIM box racket. These devices are commonly used for fraudulent activities. The operation had previously resulted in arrests and seizures in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

In a significant breakthrough, a joint operation by Odisha and Jharkhand police led to the recovery of at least five SIM boxes from a vacant flat in Ranchi's Maulana Azad Colony on Tuesday, according to officials.

The raid follows the recent busting of a major SIM box racket by Odisha police. SIM boxes, often employed in cybercrime and other illegal activities, mask original phone numbers, posing substantial challenges for law enforcement agencies.

The operation on August 16 in Bhubaneswar initially unraveled the racket with the arrest of West Bengal resident Raju Mandal. Authorities seized multiple devices, including active SIM boxes and hundreds of SIM cards, revealing the involvement of a Bangladesh national rerouting international calls to India.

(With inputs from agencies.)