Itanagar, July 29: In a landmark operation, the Itanagar Capital Police have successfully busted a large-scale inter-state vehicle theft and smuggling racket, recovering 57 high-end stolen vehicles worth over ₹30.5 crore. Authorities have confirmed that this is the largest single police station vehicle recovery recorded in India to date.

Addressing the media at the Capital SP Office, Superintendent of Police Jummar Basar, APPS, stated that the operation was initiated following the registration of a suo-motu FIR under Ita PS Case No. 102/25. The case was registered under several relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 111(2)(b)(3)(4)(5), 317(4), 336(2), 340, and 61(2). Following this, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted under his direct supervision to take swift and coordinated action.

The SIT was led by SDPO Kengo Dirchi, who also served as the Investigating Officer, and included Inspector K. Yangfo, Sub-Inspectors P. Padam and S. Samuel, Head Constable Robi, and Constables Samdeep Yadav, Digle, and Wangpan. The crackdown, which began on July 2, 2025, resulted in the recovery of stolen vehicles from multiple locations across the Itanagar Capital Region.

The recovered vehicles included a wide range of high-end models such as Hyundai Creta, Toyota Fortuner, Kia Seltos, Maruti Brezza, Kia Sonet, Tata Safari, Tata Harrier, Mahindra Thar, Mahindra Scorpio, Toyota Innova, Audi, Ford Endeavour, Hyundai Venue, and Maruti Baleno. All vehicles were found to be blacklisted and linked to theft and robbery cases reported in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and several other states.

Investigations revealed that the criminal syndicate primarily targeted luxury vehicles in the Delhi-NCR region and nearby states. After theft, the vehicles were handed over to a well-organised network of brokers who tampered with engine and chassis numbers, forged ownership documents, and then transported the vehicles to Arunachal Pradesh. There, the vehicles were sold to unsuspecting buyers at prices well below market value.

Preliminary findings also suggest the possibility of international links to the racket. Authorities believe that stolen vehicles or the proceeds from their sale may have been routed through digital money trails or cross-border agents. These connections are currently under active investigation.

In the wake of the recovery, the Itanagar Police have issued a public advisory urging citizens to verify the ownership history of vehicles through the VAHAN portal or relevant RTOs before purchasing. The public has also been advised not to buy vehicles with incomplete or suspicious documentation and to report any questionable deals or dealers to the nearest police station.

While five individuals involved in the racket have been arrested, the investigation remains ongoing. Police teams are actively working to apprehend the remaining absconding members of the network and to locate any additional stolen vehicles that may still be hidden in Arunachal Pradesh or beyond. The Itanagar Capital Police continue to pursue leads both within and outside the state, and authorities are confident that further breakthroughs are imminent.