Diplomat’s son in 5-member syndicate: How Delhi Police, NCB busted drug cartel after weeks Of reconnaissance

NEW DELHI: In a major blow to international narcotics trafficking, a joint operation by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the special cell of Delhi Police has dismantled a sophisticated drug cartel that was targeting young students in educational institutions. Five members of the syndicate, including an African diplomat's son, have been arrested and drugs worth several crores seized.

The operation earned the agencies appreciation from Union home minister Amit Shah. "Our relentless hunt against the drug trade continues. In line with Modi govt's zero tolerance against drugs, a major narco-network was busted in Delhi-NCR. NCB and Delhi Police grabbed the gang by its throat and recovered methamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine worth Rs 27.4 crore and arrested five people. I applaud NCB and Delhi Police for this major breakthrough," Shah wrote on X.

The cartel, with its tentacles spread across Africa and Asia, was peddling high-quality narcotics, including methamphetamine, heroin, MDMA and ecstasy pills. The accused enrolled in private institutes in Delhi and other places and had been selling the narcotics to youngsters.

The operation, which made a major dent in the drugs supply in south Delhi, was a culmination of weeks of reconnaissance of suspects' hideouts and movements. The arrests happened after a 22-hour-long wait-and-watch exercise by sleuths of the counter-intelligence unit, sources said.

"On receipt of an input about an imminent exchange of high-quality methamphetamine in DLF farmhouse area of Chhatarpur in south Delhi, we mounted surveillance on the suspects, leading to the interception of a vehicle carrying 5.1 kilogram high-quality crystal methamphetamine valued at Rs 10.2 crore," said an officer.

Five occupants of the vehicle, including four Nigerians belonging to an influential family, were arrested. The accused were identified as Anca Musa (29), Abba Abu Umar (26), Ibrahim Ahmed Gumel (19), Lungi Naukhu (35) and Kushagra (23). The father of one of the accused is a diplomat while another is the son of a member of the Nigerian Olympic association, sources said.

An NCB official said the accused were interrogated on the spot, which revealed that this contraband was sourced from an African kitchen in west Delhi's Tilak Nagar. "Search at this kitchen led to the recovery of 1.1kg crystal methamphetamine, 4.1kg Afghan heroine and 5.7kg MDMA (ecstasy pills) valued at Rs 16.4 crore. Further, a follow-up search at a rented apartment in Greater Noida led to the recovery of 389 gram Afghan heroin and 26 gram cocaine," the official added.

The investigation has revealed that the cartel members were involved in facilitating African youths peddling drugs and narcotics, in getting student visas for study at major private universities of National Capital Region and Punjab.

"For some of the students, the visa was only a cover for their stay in India while they were involved in supplying drugs and cryptocurrency conversions," said a senior officer of the special cell.

Further, investigations to identify the previous and forward linkages of this drug syndicate is underway and more arrests are likely, sources said.

"The seizure exemplifies the agencies' commitment to successfully dismantle drug networks. To fight against drug trafficking, we seek support from the citizens. Any person can share information related to sale of narcotics by calling on MANAS- national narcotics helpline toll free number 1933," said an official.