An official reported that the New Jalpaiguri Police, a part of the Siliguri Metropolitan Police (SMP), uncovered an illegal SIM box network operation on Thursday. This resulted in the arrest of the suspected mastermind for purportedly operating illegal telephone exchanges through SIM box machines, leading to revenue losses for the Department of Telecom.
The authorities seized three SIM boxes, also known as SIM banks, featuring numerous slots, along with 93 SIM cards, technical devices, counterfeit voter cards, Aadhar cards, licenses, and other documentation.
The apprehended individual has been identified as Md Sabbir, aged 28, residing in Kuyarbari, located near the Indo-Bangladesh border.
As per police officials, acting on intelligence, a specialized team comprising the Special Operation Group (SOG) and the Directive Department (DD), led by Debasish Bose, ACP of Siliguri Metropolitan Police, conducted a raid on a mobile repair shop owned by Md Sabbir in Jatiakhali, Jalpaiguri, situated near the Indo-Bangladesh International border. During the operation, they recovered three SIM boxes, 93 SIM cards, and various other items, including counterfeit documents.
Officers from central agencies have initiated an investigation into the matter. They have also arrived at the police station to interrogate the accused individual.
A SIM box, also known as a SIM bank, serves as a component of a VoIP gateway setup. It comprises multiple SIM cards, connected to the gateway but physically separated and stored apart from it. These SIM cards may belong to different mobile operators, enabling the SIM box to function with multiple GSM gateways positioned in different locations.