The NIA is likely to take up investigation of the daring highway robbery by a gang to loot over Rs 15 crore worth Chinese brand of mobile phones in Krishnagiri due to its international ramifications.
Coimbatore: The district police, who made a strong headway with the arrest of 10 members of a larger gang, have established a network of smugglers from foreign soil to be involved in the offence. Of the 10 accused, seven were arrested from Madhya Pradesh and brought to Krishnagiri on Wednesday.
With their arrest, police have found out that a gang, not less than 18 members hijacked the truck carrying over 14,000 mobile phones and looted them away after assaulting the crew on October 21 near at Melumalai near Soolagiri on Chennai-Bengaluru National Highways. The truck was bound to Mumbai from Chennai.
Police have so far seized four lorries and two cars from their possession. Police teams continue to camp in Madhya Pradesh to arrest other evasive members of the gang.
Investigations revealed that the highway robbery gang had connections with international gangs operating from Bangladesh. “The stolen mobile phones were sold to members of their network in Bangladesh. The 18-member gang had operated on a commission basis and they were paid Rs 6 crore in ‘hawala’ money by international operators. As the case has international ramifications, efforts were being taken to shift the case to NIA,” said a police officer. The police claimed that they faced stiff resistance from local people while arresting the robbers in Madhya Pradesh.
With their arrest, police have found out that a gang, not less than 18 members hijacked the truck carrying over 14,000 mobile phones and looted them away after assaulting the crew on October 21 near at Melumalai near Soolagiri on Chennai-Bengaluru National Highways. The truck was bound to Mumbai from Chennai.
Police have so far seized four lorries and two cars from their possession. Police teams continue to camp in Madhya Pradesh to arrest other evasive members of the gang.
Investigations revealed that the highway robbery gang had connections with international gangs operating from Bangladesh. “The stolen mobile phones were sold to members of their network in Bangladesh. The 18-member gang had operated on a commission basis and they were paid Rs 6 crore in ‘hawala’ money by international operators. As the case has international ramifications, efforts were being taken to shift the case to NIA,” said a police officer. The police claimed that they faced stiff resistance from local people while arresting the robbers in Madhya Pradesh.
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