Police recovers around 250 smuggled mobile phones worth Rs. 5 million in Karachi

In its effort to support PTA’s mission of restricting the use of smuggled mobile phones, Karachi Police has recently recovered a large number of illegal smartphones from the metropolis. The shipment was said to be carrying a whopping 249 smuggled mobile phones which were recovered by Police from a car on Napier Road in Karachi.

According to local media reports, SSP East Karachi, Ghulam Azfar Mahaesar has said that accused were trying to move the mobile phones in a white Toyota Corolla car. He further revealed that the found devices are worth over Rs. 5 million.

During this search operation, Police has arrested two suspected individuals. The suspects have been handed over to customs officials for further investigation.

Since Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) has launched its Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) to block smuggled/stolen mobile phones, the number of mobile phone users tend to decrease as a notable number of people in Pakistan are using illegal/un-registered smartphones non-compliant with PTA. Other government authorities and institutions are also helping PTA in its campaign of restricting smuggled mobile phone users.

Last week, Airport Security Force (ASF) arrested a Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) officer for smuggling around 60 mobile phones expected to be worth around Rs. 4 million at Islamabad airport. The ASF staff which was performing duty on the security points at Islamabad airport when they found a bag full of mobile phones from the custody of the FIA official as the suspect was coming out of the airport.

Meanwhile, mobile phones which are smuggled into Pakistan after the second deadline (25th January 2019) which was announced by PTA will be the main focus in the smartphone blocking process. You must also need to take precautions before buying a phone from a local vendor especially a phone whose packing doesn’t clearly state “PTA Approved”. You must verify the phone’s IMEI by visiting PTA’s website.

On the other hand, mobile phone dealers have expressed concerns that if the government fails to issue an SRO for the registration of used mobile phones in Pakistan, over 1.5 million mobile phone dealers will be unemployed.