Undercover Sting Uncovers Firearm Trafficking Network in India

On August 9, 2025, the Delhi Police's Special Task Force (STF) conducted a successful sting operation, leading to the seizure of a significant cache of illegal firearms. Acting on a tip-off, the police apprehended a suspect, Amit Kumar, near the Kos Minar roundabout in Jasola, southeast Delhi, as he was about to deliver a consignment of 10 semi-automatic pistols and 20 live cartridges to one of his contacts.

During interrogation, the 29-year-old Kumar confessed to being a member of an arms syndicate that has been supplying firearms to criminals in the Delhi-NCR region for the past two years. He revealed that he had sourced the weapons from an arms manufacturer-cum-supplier based in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, purchasing each pistol for Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 and selling them for Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 to his criminal contacts.

The police investigation has uncovered that Kumar, a graduate currently employed as a recovery agent at a private bank in Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh, was initially lured into the illegal arms trade by a fellow villager, who promised him quick and easy money. While he started as a mere carrier, Kumar eventually established his own network and began independently procuring and supplying firearms for higher profits.

The seizure of these illegal weapons comes just a week before India's Independence Day celebrations, highlighting the heightened security concerns during such events. The Delhi Police's crackdown on known firearm suppliers, particularly those based in Madhya Pradesh, has led to this significant disruption of the arms trafficking network.