The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) of Islamabad police claimed to have busted eight major gangs comprising 34 members during 2019 and recovered Rs 28.9 million cash, gold ornaments, cell phones, vehicles and weapons from them.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Waqar Uddin Syed addressing a news conference said that the CIA has busted eight gangs of dacoits and street criminals during previous year.

The criminals arrested by CIA included Afghan nationals who used to decamp to Afghanistan after committing crimes here. He said that seven criminals of a notorious Satti Gang were arrested who looted cash of Post Office in Rawal Town in the limits of Shehzad Town police station. Police recovered looted Rs 5.6 million, weapons, a vehicle and bikes used in this incident of robbery, he maintained.

The DIG said that another gang including three Afghan nationals was booked which entered into a house at Orchard Scheme in the limits of Khanna police station and looted cash and other valuables at gunpoint. National and foreign currency, imported weapons, gold ornaments and watches, worth Rs 12.1 million, were recovered from their possession, he said.

Similarly, a gang of another four street criminals was arrested which was involved in mobile snatching and changing of IMEI number of mobile phones. Police recovered mobile phones, Rs 250,000 cash, and a device used to change IMEI number of mobile phones from them.

He said that four maids were also held who used to loot houses after giving intoxicating material to the inmates, and cash and gold ornaments worth Rs 5.1 million were recovered from them. Another gang of burglar comprising three criminals was busted while valuables including laptops and gold ornaments, worth Rs 0.95 million, were recovered from it.

He said that CIA also arrested another gang used to commit dacoities at houses and recovered cash and gold ornaments, worth Rs 1.2 million, from them.