Raj ANTF nabs drug network kingpin on the run for 7 years

Jaipur: Rajasthan Police's Anti-Narcotics Task Force Wednesday arrested the alleged kingpin of a synthetic drug network that investigators say operated like a professional business enterprise across three states – Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.ANTF inspector general Vikas Kumar identified the accused as Raju Ram alias Rajesh, 40, a resident of Barmer district. On the run for seven years and with a bounty of Rs 40,000 on his head, he was wanted in multiple drug trafficking cases in Rajasthan and Gujarat.Kumar said the arrest was a major breakthrough in efforts to dismantle a syndicate believed to have so far trafficked synthetic drugs worth nearly Rs 100 crore across the three states.He said the network functioned like a well-oiled and legitimate business enterprise, with clearly defined production, marketing and distribution roles. The accused allegedly acted as the "CEO" of the marketing arm, handling supply chains and wholesale deals, while other associates managed manufacturing and finances.Kumar also said the accused earned as much as Rs 15 lakh per delivery run at the peak of his operations, after having risen through the ranks since his entry into the criminal underworld over a decade ago."He started as a courier transporting illegal liquor to Gujarat for Rs 15,000 per trip, before moving into opium and poppy husk smuggling during the Covid period, where his earnings rose to Rs 1.5 lakh per trip. He later transitioned into synthetic drugs by leveraging his network to scale operations rapidly," Kumar said.Investigators said the syndicate set up around a dozen illegal MD manufacturing units in Jodhpur, Jalore, Sanchore and Barmer over the past five years, producing up to 2–3 quintals of the drug and raking in estimated profits of Rs 15 lakh per kg.Officials added that the accused built an extensive network of agents and wholesalers to ensure the rapid distribution of drugs immediately after production. He is reported to have disclosed the names of several wholesale drug suppliers operating in Gujarat and parts of Rajasthan, including Jodhpur, Pali and the Mewar region.ANTF said further investigation is underway to identify the remaining members of the network and dismantle its supply chains.