Delhi Police bust drug cartel, arrest four with 30-kg psychotropic tablets
The Delhi Police claimed to have busted a drug cartel and seized psychotropic drugs with the arrest of four persons. They also arrested an inter-state drug trafficker and two Nigerian nationals for running a narco-syndicate in separate cases, police officials said on Tuesday.
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Crime Branch dismantled a drug cartel operating across Delhi and NCR supplying psychotropic substance – alprazolam tablets.
The police recovered 30 kg (equivalent to 2 lakh pills) of alprazolam tablets worth approximately Rs 1 crore in the international market. They also seized three motorcycles being for transportation of drugs.
Acting on a tip-off regarding a drug shipment near Sonia Vihar, the ANTF arrested Laxman (32) and Pankaj (18) on November 28. They recovered 27 kgs of alprazolam tablets from their possession, the police said.
Based on their disclosure, the Crime Branch raided a godown. Apoorva Gupta, DCP (Crime Branch) ANTF, said: “A raid was conducted at a godown in Loni, Uttar Pradesh, leading to the recovery of additional 2.4 kg of alprazolam tablets. The godown reportedly belonged to Ankit Shukla”.
“After raids across Delhi-NCR and Uttar Pradesh, Ankit Shukla (22) was apprehended on December 16 from Gonda, UP,” the DCP said.
Acting on a tip-off, the police arrested Tanishq (23) from near the Karkardooma Metro station on December 28.
The police said Shukla and Tanishq, a resident of Karawal Nagar, Delhi, used to work as delivery agents for supply of generic medicines. Tanishq told Shukla about the supply of alprazolam tablets.
“Later, the duo started distributing psychotropic substances across Delhi and NCR,” the DCP added.
In another case, the ANTF, Crime Branch, under the supervision of DCP Apoorva Gupta, apprehended an inter-state drug trafficker and recovered 170 grams of heroin from him.
“Acting on a tip-off regarding two individuals, Sonu and Saplu, residents of Uttar Pradesh, involved in the supply of heroin and opium in Jahangirpuri area, Delhi, the team raided a house on November 18. When they found the house locked, they contacted the landlord. With the help of the landlord, they managed to nab Saplu (23). During checking, 170 grams of heroin was recovered from the house,” the DCP said.
“During investigation, Saplu admitted to his involvement in selling heroin with his accomplice Sonu, a resident of Binawar, Badaun, UP, in areas such as Burari and Peeragarhi in Delhi,” the official said.
The police said Saplu revealed that Sonu procured heroin from his sources in Bareilly, UP, and the latter was earlier also involved in criminal activities, including two arms act cases and one NDPS case.
Meanwhile, the police arrested two Nigerian nationals and recovered 442 grams of heroin from them. The police also seized a car and four mobile phones used in the crime.
The accused have been identified as Amans Osaretin, alias Fred (47), and Thompson, alias Emeka (47).
“During search, 442 grams of heroin concealed in a juice tetra pack was found in Fred’s jacket. During interrogation, he disclosed that he had procured the drugs from his associate, Thompson, at the Janakpuri Metro station and was planning to deliver these at Jasola or Ashram Metro station,” said DCP (South West), Surendra Chaudhary. Thompson was apprehended from Chander Vihar.
The police said Fred reached India in 2014 on a medical visa for kidney treatment. “He got involved in drug trafficking through an acquaintance in Gurgaon. Arrested in 2015 under the NDPS Act, he remained in jail for seven years. After being released from the jail in 2022, he again entered into drug trade,” they said.
Thompson came to India three years ago on a medical visa for neck pain. “He overstayed his visa and joined the drug trade to address financial constraints,” the police said.
