The Special Cell of the Delhi Police has uncovered an illegal arms and ammunition racket operating in the National Capital Region and traced it to a cartridge manufacturing unit in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, an official said on September 24. Three individuals, Fazil (50), Jameer (57), and Illiyas (65), have been arrested in connection with the case.
During a raid conducted on September 22, police recovered two semi-automatic pistols, five single-shot pistols, and 210 live cartridges from the suspects. Additionally, an illegal arms manufacturing facility was busted in Moradabad. The police seized a lathe machine, a grinding machine, cartridge-making tools, 257 empty cartridges, 354 bullet leads, 350 empty shells, gunpowder, solid brass rods, and other incriminating materials from the site.
Fazil, Jameer, and Illiyas operated an illegal arms factory in Moradabad, producing live cartridges in just five minutes, planning attacks in Delhi-NCR ahead of Diwali.
The Delhi Police Special Cell arrested one suspect near Ghazipur, raided the site, and seized multiple… pic.twitter.com/mP0oYdEjRX
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An officer stated that the seized raw materials had the potential to produce nearly 1,000 cartridges. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Amit Kaushik said, “The operation was launched on September 22 after we received specific intelligence that Fazil, an illegal arms supplier, would be delivering weapons near the Ghazipur flyover in Delhi. A trap was laid, and Fazil was apprehended at the scene. A subsequent search led to the recovery of four single-shot pistols and 166 live cartridges.”
Following Fazil’s interrogation, police conducted a raid in Rampur the next day and arrested Jameer, from whom they recovered 20 live cartridges. During questioning, Jameer revealed that he had procured the ammunition from Illiyas, a resident of Moradabad. Acting on this information, the team carried out another raid in Moradabad, arresting Illiyas and seizing two semi-automatic pistols and one single-shot pistol from his possession.
“During interrogation, Illiyas revealed the existence of a clandestine ammunition manufacturing unit operating out of a house near his residence,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Amit Kaushik. A subsequent raid, conducted with the help of local police, led to the recovery of a large quantity of raw material and machinery used for cartridge production.
According to police, Fazil, a farmer from Moradabad, was introduced to Jameer through relatives about five to six years ago and gradually became involved in supplying illegal arms across Delhi-NCR.
Jameer, who dropped out after studying up to Class 5 and later worked in various menial jobs, is believed to have entered the illegal arms trade after coming into contact with Illiyas. Since then, he has served as a key link between arms suppliers and buyers.
“The alleged mastermind, Illiyas, 65, comes from a family traditionally involved in brass utensil manufacturing,” said an officer. “He reportedly learned ammunition-making techniques from local sources and shifted to the illegal arms trade nearly 20 years ago.”
Illiyas was first arrested in 2022 in an Arms Act case in the Mugalpura area of Moradabad. Since then, he has been named in multiple cases, including those under the Gangster Act and for attempt to murder. Police said the investigation is ongoing to uncover the broader network the trio was involved in and to determine any possible links to criminal gangs operating in Delhi-NCR.
