In a major drug bust, the Delhi police seized over 560 kilograms of cocaine, valued at approximately ₹2,000 crore, from South Delhi’s Mehrauli area. This has been hailed as one of the largest drug hauls in the national capital. Four individuals have been arrested in connection with the seizure, and initial investigations suggest that the operation was part of an international drug syndicate run by Afghan nationals based in New Delhi.

According to the police, the arrested individuals were planning to distribute the cocaine across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). This operation was carried out by the Special Cell of the Delhi police, which had been monitoring the syndicate for over two months following a tip-off. The timely bust took place just ahead of the upcoming festive season, potentially preventing the distribution of a massive consignment of drugs.

This drug seizure follows another significant arrest made by the Delhi police just a few days prior. Two Afghan nationals, Hashimi Mohammad Waris and Abdul Nayib, were apprehended in a raid in Tilak Nagar. The police recovered 400 grams of heroin and 160 grams of cocaine from their possession. The arrests point to a growing trend of Afghan nationals being involved in drug syndicates operating in the capital city.

Waris, one of the arrested individuals, has been living in India under refugee status since January 2020. Originally from Afghanistan, his family remains in his home country while he resides in India. Upon arriving in the country, he initially worked as a helper at a chemist shop in Vikaspuri. However, his involvement in the drug trade began after a friend contacted him, offering him money to collect and deliver drug consignments around Delhi and the NCR. Waris was reportedly paid $100 for each delivery he completed.

Nayib, also a refugee from Afghanistan, arrived in India in January 2020, accompanied by his father. Like Waris, his family remains in Afghanistan. The two men met while working together at the same chemist shop in Vikaspuri. Police reports indicate that Waris enticed Nayib into the drug trade by promising him a luxurious lifestyle. Both men were involved in delivering drugs to various parts of Delhi after collecting them from different suppliers.

The recent drug bust in Mehrauli is part of a larger pattern of illegal drug trafficking in the region. Earlier this year, the Delhi police’s Special Cell had arrested four individuals involved in smuggling drugs from conflict-ridden areas in Manipur and four other states to Delhi. These individuals were transporting high-quality opium and heroin, using vehicles such as the Kia Seltos and Mahindra Thar to blend in as officials from construction companies working on road projects in Imphal.

The police believe that the drug trade in Delhi and NCR has deep international ties, with Afghan nationals playing a significant role in smuggling narcotics into the country. This has raised concerns about the increasing presence of foreign nationals involved in organized crime syndicates within India. Law enforcement agencies are now intensifying efforts to trace the larger network of suppliers and distributors who may be involved in the syndicate.

With drug busts increasing in frequency, authorities are focusing on strengthening surveillance and intelligence gathering to dismantle these international drug rings. The arrests made over the past week highlight the scale and complexity of drug trafficking operations in the capital, underscoring the need for more stringent measures to curb the inflow of narcotics into India.

The recent crackdown comes as a relief ahead of the festive season, with law enforcement agencies committed to preventing further drug trafficking operations. The investigation into the international drug syndicate continues, with the police hoping to gather more information from the individuals arrested in the Mehrauli and Tilak Nagar cases.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Yash Kamble/MSM)