KATHMANDU, Aug 15: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police on Friday arrested two individuals on the charge of illegally running Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) call centers during raids at three different places in New Baneshwar, Sankhamul and Pepsicola Kathmandu.

Based on tip-off, the CIB raided the rented rooms in the three locations and arrested the two with VOIP-related equipment. The arrested are Kedar Achhami, 28, of Dhulikhel-9 of Kavrepalanchowk, and Suman Shrestha, 26, of Chautara-9 of Sindhupalchowk district. They were involved in illegal bypassing of international phone calls under the cover of bag business.

The investigation body seized 16 ports GOIP Device-6 sets, battery and inverter-5 sets, 315 NTC and Ncell SIM Cards, TP Link Router-6 sets, two laptops and other devices being used for the illegal operation.

According to SP Dibesh Lohani of CIB, the two had rented the rooms by cheating the landlords with the claim that they would operate bag shops. "They told landlords that they would stay in the rooms in the morning and evening only but they had been operating illegal jobs during the time," he said adding.

They had installed the devices in the false bottom of the cupboard in the support of a Bangladeshi national.

Till date, CIB has raided 91 locations and arrested 106 Nepali citizens and 31 foreigners, on the charge of involvement in illegal VOIP operations.

The bureau has also seized 22,000 SIM cards among other things.

The arrested would be charged under Telecommunication Act, 1997, if proved guilty.

 
• central investigation bureau
 
• voice over internet protocol
 
• 2 held
 
• b ypassing international phone calls