Scrapyard Secrets: Unveiling the Radio Smuggling Racket

Ghaziabad Police apprehended a scrap dealer, Zaved Meerpuria, accused of smuggling stolen radio equipment abroad. Arrested at Delhi Airport, Meerpuria allegedly led a gang and confessed to channeling stolen goods to Nepal and China. Six accomplices have been arrested, and a significant haul recovered.

On Thursday, Ghaziabad Police detained a 32-year-old scrap dealer, Zaved Meerpuria, under accusations of smuggling stolen radio equipment overseas. Captured on transit remand from Delhi's Patiala House Court, Meerpuria was nabbed by Delhi Police at Indira Gandhi International Airport while attempting to escape to Dubai.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (City) Rajesh Kumar Singh, Meerpuria had been working with his father before starting his illegal activities. He orchestrated the theft of radio receiver units from mobile towers, confessing to supplying these to Nepal and China under the guise of scrap transactions.

The police revealed that Meerpuria organized a network of thieves across various cities to steal apparatus from mobile towers. Meerpuria established connections with Hong Kong and Dubai-based companies, sending the stolen equipment via sea and air, with payments made both through bank accounts and illegal hawala channels. Six accomplices were arrested on October 3 as cybercrime police exposed the operation, seizing stolen equipment valued at 35 lakh rupees.

(With inputs from agencies.)