Karachi’s Garden Police have successfully apprehended three individuals involved in altering the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of stolen mobile phones. During an intelligence-based operation, the police recovered 17 stolen phones and a motorcycle from the suspects’ possession.
According to SSP City Arif Aziz, the arrested individuals, Sameer, Muhammad Atif, and Khalid, are highly educated and possess strong IT skills. They used specialized software to change the IMEI numbers of stolen phones, effectively masking their origins and enabling them to be resold.
The group’s modus operandi involved activating stolen phones by swapping their IMEIs with those of imported or keypad phones.
The recovered phones originated from various police station jurisdictions, highlighting the gang’s extensive network.Investigations revealed that the suspects had altered the IMEIs of hundreds of stolen phones and identified several shopkeepers who facilitated this illegal activity. Additionally, they were involved in activating non-PTA (Pakistan Telecommunication Authority) approved phones.
Atif and Khalid operated a mobile shop in the Sadar Diplomat Market, while Sameer ran a separate shop within the same vicinity. Cases have been registered against all three individuals, and further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend any potential accomplices..
