Delhi Police Busts ISI-Backed Arms Syndicate: 4 Smugglers Arrested With Turkish Pistols

In a major crackdown on organised crime, the Delhi Police Crime Branch has dismantled a cross-border, ISI-backed arms smuggling module. The operation led to the arrest of four smugglers involved in an international syndicate that used drones to traffic advanced weaponry from Pakistan into India.

The module, linked to US-based gangster Sonu Khatri (alias Rajesh Kumar), was supplying foreign-made weapons to major gangsters in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Seizures And Arrests

Police seized a total of 10 semi-automatic pistols and 92 cartridges. The recovery includes:

• Three Turkish-made PX-5.7 pistols (used by Turkish Special Forces).
• Five Chinese-made PX-3 pistols.
• A Punjab-registered Swift Dzire car used for transporting the contraband.

DCP (Crime Branch) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav identified the arrested individuals as:

• Mandeep Singh (Phillaur, Jalandhar, Punjab)
• Dalvinder Kumar (Atti, Jalandhar, Punjab)
• Rohan Tomar (Village Lahudda, Baraut, Baghpat)
• Ajay alias Monu (Village Bawli, Baraut, Baghpat)

The Operation

On November 19, the Crime Branch received intelligence regarding the movement of this syndicate in the NCR. A team led by ACP Sanjay Nagpal, Inspector Man Singh, and Inspector Sundar Gautam acted on the tip-off that members were arriving in Rohini to supply weapons.

The police intercepted a Swift Dzire near KhatuShyam Mandir, Sector-28, Rohini. A search of the vehicle revealed eight foreign pistols and 84 cartridges (0.30 bore) concealed inside a speaker box in a bag. The occupants, Mandeep Singh and Dalvinder Kumar, were immediately arrested.

During interrogation, they admitted to being connected to Pakistani handlers and supplying weapons across India on their instructions. Based on their disclosure, two middlemen—Rohan Tomar and Ajay alias Monu—were arrested from Baghpat, leading to the recovery of two additional semi-automatic pistols and eight cartridges.

Modus Operandi: Drones And Encrypted Comms

The investigation revealed a sophisticated smuggling network heavily reliant on technology and cross-border coordination:

Drone Drops: Pakistan-based smugglers use customised commercial drones to drop weapons and illegal items near vulnerable border points, flying at low altitudes to evade radar.

GPS Coordination: Consignments are dropped at pre-selected GPS-coordinated locations near the border fence, typically late at night.

Retrieval: Receivers on the Indian side—usually local criminals and drug smugglers—retrieve the payloads.

Communication & Payment: Handlers use encrypted platforms to coordinate drops, frequently changing times and locations to avoid detection. Payments are routed through hawala channels or proxy accounts.

Concealment: Weapons are often wrapped in coarse carbon paper to avoid detection during security checks.

The Syndicate Network And Criminal History

The accused acted as key logistical links in a chain connecting Pakistani handlers to Indian gangsters.

Mandeep Singh & Dalvinder Kumar: Childhood friends from the same village, they joined the module through Jaspreet alias Jas, a close associate of gangster Sonu Khatri. Jaspreet, currently a fugitive, coordinates the procurement of drugs and weapons from Pakistan via drones. On his instructions, the duo collected weapons from Punjab for delivery across India. Mandeep has six prior cases registered against him in Punjab.

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Rohan Tomar: Previously associated with gangster Anil Baliyan (of the Sanjeev Jeeva group), Rohan supplied arms to the notorious Gogi, Himanshu alias Bhau, and Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu gangs in Delhi, Haryana, and UP. He utilised illicit earnings to start a contracting business. In November 2024, he was arrested with 17 advanced weapons and 700 cartridges in a separate case. He faces charges in Kankarkheda, Meerut.

Ajay alias Monu: Also an associate of Anil Baliyan, Ajay supplied ammunition to the same NCR-based gangs. He has two prior cases of theft and two cases registered in Bhajanpura.

The Mastermind: Sonu Khatri The syndicate is backed by Sonu Khatri, a Punjab-based gangster who fled to the US in 2021. A Red Corner Notice has been issued against him. He faces 45 criminal cases, including attempt to murder, extortion, and charges under the NDPS and Explosives Acts.

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The Crime Branch stated that this group is often involved in human trafficking alongside arms and drug smuggling.