Barmer/Balotra, Oct. 18 -- Balotra police, with its cyber cell, on Friday uncovered a fake SIM card network under the banner of "Operation Black SIM", arresting 10 suspects and seizing evidence that points to a nationwide fraud operation. Authorities say about 50,000 fraudulent SIM cards were issued through the racket, of which some 15,000 were activated from Balotra district alone. The probe - led by the cyber team after three months of surveillance - revealed a sophisticated supply chain in which SIMs were activated using forged documents, and transported to other states, and then sold on the black market at high margins. The bogus connections were reportedly used to facilitate a range of serious crimes, including cyber fraud, drug and illegal liquor trafficking, and large-scale financial deception. The arrested were identified as Vikram Kumar (32), Sandeep Mali (28), Lokesh Jajoriya (31), Harish Chandra Suthar (32), Rahul Mali (25), Mohangiri Goswami (35), Rakesh Choudhary (34), Narayan Prajapat (26), Mukesh Prajapat (24), and Bhim Singh (34). Items seized from the accused include 19 mobile phones, three laptops, and bank records and account statements with transactions worth crores, police said. SP Ramesh Kumar said, "Our cyber team tracked this national-level fake-SIM network for three months. These SIMs were being activated on forged documents and shipped to buyers across the country. This operation will help curb a major avenue criminals use to hide digital footprints". A case has been lodged under Sections 318 (cheating), 316 (breach of trust), 319 (cheating by personation), 61 (criminal conspiracy), 112 (petty organised crime) of the BNS....