Illegal telephone gadgets seized in Ras Al Khaimah

Ras Al Khaimah: Several shops have been selling local residents illegal international phone calls for 50 fils per minute, regardless of the area, from mobile phones illegally tapped into etisalat lines.

Several people of Asian origin have brought technology into the UAE which enables them to get free lines on their cell phones.

The police force raided nine shops in different areas of the emirate yesterday and arrested people who have turned their shops into call centres using the illegal mobile phone technology.

A senior police officer confirmed the operation was carefully planned and suspects were caught red handed.

Coordination

The officer stressed that the operation was conducted in complete cooperation with etisalat on whose lines the suspects have been selling the calls.

The emirate's police and etisalat received a tip off that two Asians in two tailoring shops in the city of Ras Al Khaimah and Al Nakheel area have been selling calls mainly into Asian countries.

Suspects have been regularly visiting Asian majority residential areas with ready to use mobile phones, to attract more customers.

The officer said this technology is completely different from the earlier types, where mobile phones were used and the rate was 50 per cent less than usual - which encouraged scores of people to use the illegal service.

Police investigators coordinating with etisalat revealed that several people in different areas of the emirate have been involved in the illegal business.

Nine Asian shop owners in the areas of Dhan, Dfan and Al Nakheel were also arrested, their shops searched and the technological devices used in the business seized.

The suspects confessed to police investigators that they have been involved in the business for quite a long time and they made a huge amount of money out of it and have a large number of regular customers.

The emirate's Police referred the suspects to the emirate's Public Prosecution to press charges and refer them to the court.