Special Cell dismantled an inter-state arms trafficking network and arrested five, including a licensed gun house owner.
NEW DELHI: A team from the New Delhi Range of the Special Cell has busted a sophisticated interstate arms trafficking network, exposing the involvement of licensed gun house owners in the illegal trade of advanced firearms and ammunition. The operation led to the arrest of five individuals, including a prominent gun house owner. The accused were allegedly procuring sophisticated weapons directly from various ordnance factories, erasing the unique serial numbers, and then manipulating sales records to cover their tracks. These weapons were subsequently sold at exorbitant prices to criminals, while records falsely indicated legitimate sales to licensed holders. Among the seized items were two ordnance-made pistols, one Taurus pistol, one Webley revolver, two pen pistols, a .32 bore pistol, and a large cache of foreign-made cartridges. According to investigators, these types of weapons—particularly Taurus pistols and Webley revolvers—are commonly favoured by organised criminal syndicates due to their reliability and precision. The investigation revealed that several Delhi-based criminals were operating within this trafficking ring, and it further uncovered links to gun house owners in multiple states. Authorities have already identified more individuals connected to the racket, and further arrests are expected in the coming days. This crackdown comes months after a December 2024 operation by the New Delhi Range, in which several individuals involved in an extortion racket were apprehended. That case revealed the nexus between jailed gangsters—lodged in Jaipur and Dausa jails—and their Delhi-based associates, who were gathering intelligence on potential targets. The extortion threats were reportedly orchestrated by foreignbased masterminds acting on behalf of these imprisoned criminals. The recent arrests not only shed light on the growing menace of illegal arms trafficking but also highlight the concerning role of trusted gun sellers in enabling criminal activities. The Special Cell has assured that efforts are underway to dismantle the entire network and bring all those involved to justice. An expert told The Sunday Guardian that between January and March of 2023 to 2025, Delhi witnessed notable changes in crime patterns. In 2023, there were 115 murders, 158 attempted murders, 375 robberies, and 1,812 snatching cases, totalling 1,078 heinous crimes. In 2024, murders dipped to 105, while attempted murders rose to 203. Robberies and snatching increased to 424 and 1,925 respectively, pushing heinous crimes up to 1,198. By 2025, heinous crimes dropped to 970, with 107 murders, 168 attempted murders, 315 robberies, and 1,199 snatching incidents. Crimes against women followed a mixed trend. In 2023, Delhi recorded 422 rape cases, 547 molestation cases, 98 incidents of eve-teasing, and 1,385 kidnappings. In 2024, rape cases rose to 455, while molestation declined slightly to 444. Eve-teasing and kidnapping figures fluctuated. By 2025, most categories saw a decline: rape cases dropped to 370, molestation to 379, eve-teasing to 63, and kidnapping to 1,360.
