Interstate psychotropic drug syndicate busted

The Delhi Police have busted an interstate network involved in the illegal supply of psychotropic medicines and arrested four people, an official said on Sunday.

The accused have been identified as Salman Khan from Patiala in Punjab, Vipin Kumar Pal from Delhi, and Abdul Rehman and Ravi Garg, both residents of Uttar Pradesh.

The police said on March 7 they received a tip-off that Vipin was involved in the illegal supply of psychotropic medicines, including alprazolam and tramadol. The police were informed that Pal would deliver a consignment to Salman Khan near Yudhishthar Setu towards Kashmere Gate between 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm.

Acting on the tip-off, the team laid a trap near the Yamuna bridge. Around 8:25 pm, Pal was spotted standing on the footpath carrying a plastic sack. Soon after, Salman Khan reached the location in an auto-rickshaw. When Pal handed over the sack to Salman, the police apprehended both of them.

During checking, the police recovered a carton containing 100 boxes of alprazolam tablets (0.5 mg). A total of 59,925 tablets weighing approximately 8.09 kg were seized from their possession.

During interrogation, the accused disclosed that the consignment had been arranged through Abdul Rehman from Muzaffarnagar and was intended to be delivered to another associate in Punjab.

Based on this information, Abdul Rehman and Ravi Garg were arrested on March 13. A search of their rented accommodation in Muzaffarnagar led to the recovery of 2,000 rexogesic (buprenorphine) injections weighing around eight kg. An FIR has been registered and further investigation is underway, the officer said.