A digital archive containing thousands of scanned passports, 3.500 ready-to-use SIM cards, and tens of thousands of euros in cash. This is the result of the operation conducted by the Carabinieri Investigative Unit of the Avellino Provincial Command, which led to the indictment for receiving stolen goods against a 50-year-old Bangladeshi man, resident in Naples and owner of a mobile phone business.
The man is believed to be involved in an alleged online sales scheme for phone cards registered to non-existent individuals, primarily aimed at fellow Italians. The investigations began after in-depth investigations that led the military to execute a search and seizure warrant issued by the Avellino Public Prosecutor's Office.
During the operation, memory devices containing files containing thousands of scanned Bangladeshi passports were seized, believed to be used to fraudulently activate telephone services. In addition to the computer equipment, the Carabinieri found and seized 3.500 SIM cards, €18.600 in cash, $180 in US dollars, and 9.500 Bangladeshi taka.
The phenomenon of SIM cards registered to non-existent individuals has long been a major problem for law enforcement, as it makes it particularly difficult to identify perpetrators of crimes committed through telephone and electronic communications. For this very reason, enforcement efforts focus not only on those using irregular telephone numbers, but also on those fueling the black market by providing anonymous tools that are difficult to trace.
The investigation continues to clarify the extent of the network of contacts and the actual sales volume, while the seized material will be analyzed to reconstruct in detail the activation and distribution system of the cards. This operation re-sheds light on a hidden market capable of fueling illicit trafficking well beyond local borders.
Changes and revisions to this article
- Article updated on 04/02/2026 at 11:05 PM - Content structure updated
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Comments (1)
The news of this operation is surprising but it raises the question of how common these systems are. It is crucial that authorities continue to investigate and stop these illegal activities.