During this operation, which took place on the night of December 13 to 14, four individuals were detained, including the alleged leader of the group.
The raid was organized based on received information, resulting in the discovery of an underground workshop located in a store in the Bidonpura area. Here, the criminals assembled smartphones from imported components for subsequent sale.
During the search, the police seized 512 counterfeit smartphones of various models, including Ultra, Fold, and Flip, as well as 124 motherboards, 138 batteries, 459 fake IMEI stickers indicating "Made in Vietnam," and special tools for assembly.
According to law enforcement data, the components for assembling smartphones were sourced from China, and the finished devices were sold for prices ranging from 35,000 to 40,000 rupees (approximately $391–447) each. To create an illusion of legality, fake IMEI stickers were affixed to the phones.
The detained individuals included Hakim (36 years old) from Ashok Vihar, Mehtab Ahmad Ansari (36) from Bridgepuri, Ravi Ahuja (36) from Rohini, and Rahul (33) from Karol Bagh. They were caught red-handed during the raid.
Criminal proceedings have been initiated against the detainees under articles related to telecommunications, fraud, and providing false information.
According to the investigation, the organizer of the criminal scheme is Hakim, who, as the police discovered, has only an eight-year education and was involved in importing components for smartphones, such as motherboards, cameras, and cases. With the help of accomplices, he assembled counterfeit devices and passed them off as originals.
The investigation is ongoing to identify all participants in the supply chain, uncover buyers, and reveal a broader network related to the production and distribution of counterfeit premium smartphones.
