Old, Unrelated Visuals Of Showing Cache Of Arms Falsely Linked To Recent Raid In Lucknow

The Lucknow Police recently busted an illegal arms manufacturing unit in Malihabad, and arrested one Salahuddin alias Lala with a cache of firearms, ammunition, and the skin of a protected deer. DCP North Gopal Krishna Choudhary said, “The accused was running an illegal arms manufacturing unit from a residential locality. He was also found in possession of prohibited wildlife material. Investigations are ongoing to identify the buyers and possible links to organised networks.”

Now, a video allegedly showing the large cache of arms seized during the recent raid in Lucknow has gone viral on social media platforms. Multiple users shared the video claiming, “3,000 guns & 20 sacks containing 50,000 cartridges along with $ recovered from Hakim Salauddin house in Lucknow.” Newschecker, however, found the claim to be untrue. 

Such posts can be seen here and here. 

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Fact Check/Verification

On carefully analysing the viral clip, we found it to be a compilation of four different footage. Further, we also noticed that the weapons/ notes seen in the viral compilation did not match details of the raid shared by the Lucknow Police.

Clip 1, 3 & 4

We conducted a reverse image search on the keyframes of Clip 1 which led us to a report by Wion, dated August 20, 2021. Carrying a slightly different version of the same footage it stated, “The Taliban has seized billions of dollars’ worth of US-supplied military equipment in Afghanistan following the rapid defeat of Afghan government forces. Images of Taliban fighters posing with these US-made supplies are circulating on social media.”

A comparison between the two visuals can be seen below.

Another report by ABP News from August 2021 featured visuals from the same arms as seen in the viral clip, and stated, “Taliban has managed to seize weapons of Afghan forces. Weapons in a huge number have been recovered by the Talibanis.” 

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We found that a longer version of the video (clip 3 & 4) was shared on Facebook by @ElMediaPersian on August 14, 2021, linking it to the Taliban’s seizure of weaponry. A report by Iran-based SNN published on August 14, 2021 also carried the same footage to show “American weapons seized by Taliban forces in Herat province.”

The Taliban seized a large quantity of US-made weapons after they took over control in Afghanistan in 2021. They displayed the same during the “victory parade” following the US’ withdrawal.

Clip 2

A Google Lens search on the keyframes of the clip led us to a Facebook post by @iqraaafricatv1, dated January 16, 2021. It featured a longer version of the viral clip showing piles of cash stashed inside a room. 

Another Facebook post by @orientaltimes1, dated February 11, 2020, carried the same video. 

We were not able to independently ascertain other details of the clip. However, it dates back to at least February 2020, and hence unrelated to the recent raid in Lucknow. 

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Conclusion

Hence, we find the viral post claiming to show the arms seized during a recent raid in Lucknow is false. 

Sources
X Post Lucknow Police, Dated June 27, 2025
YouTube Video By Wion, Dated August 20, 2021
YouTube Video By ABP News, Dated August 2021
Facebook Post By @ElMediaPersian, Dated August 14, 2021
Report By SNN , Dated August 14, 2021
Facebook Post By @orientaltimes1, Dated February 11, 2020