Delhi drug bust: How police cracked biggest-ever cocaine haul targeted at college students, businessmen

Police busted the biggest-ever drug haul in Delhi worth Rs 5,820 crore (approx. $687 million) on Wednesday in the city’s Mahipalpur Extension. The drugs, Grade-A Colombian cocaine, with an overall weight of 602 kg were seized by Delhi police’s special cell on October 2. Four of the key members of the cartel, including one person in India, have been arrested.

The drugs — 562 kg of cocaine (estimated to be worth ₹5,620 crores (approx. $667 million) in the international market) and 40 kg of hydroponic marijuana (valued at ₹200 crores) — were seized in an operation.

The four arrested persons have beenidentified asTushar Goyal, 40, Himanshu Kumar, 27, Aurangzeb Siddiqui, 23, and Bharat Kumar Jain, 48in the case so far.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Also Read |BJP alleges Congress link to record $667 million drug bust in Delhi

A senior officer of the Special Cell, which worked on the case for the past two months, said they are exploring all possible angles in their investigation, including that of “narco-terror”.

The cocaine was found stockpiled at a godown in Mahipalpur and was meant to be supplied at four big upcoming concerts and music festivals in Delhi, Mumbai and Goa between October 2024 and March 2025, police sources said.

Watch |Unconventional drug use on the rise

The cocaine was smuggled into Delhi by road from various States and the marijuana was brought in through the aerial route from Phuket, Thailand, confirmed police. The police also said that the accused traded in cryptocurrency to avoid detection by law enforcement agencies.

The kingpin of the module has been located in Dubai and an operation is underway to nab him and bring him back to India, the sources said.

The cartel has been smuggling cocaine from Latin and Central American nations such as Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Mexico. College students, working professionals and rich businessmen in Delhi and Mumbai were targets for the supply of drugs.

How Special Cell nabbed, raided the biggest-ever drug haul

A senior officer of the Special Cell received a tip-off from a central agency in August about a man named Tushar Goyal, stashing drugs at his godown in Mahipalpur Extension. After the intel, a team of 40 officers led by additional CP (special cell) Pramod Singh Kushwaha worked for over three months, identifying and zeroing members of the gang and keeping their activities under discreet surveillance.

Also Read |India: Activist Sonam Wangchuk released from detention; to meet PM Modi or president soon

“We tracked his movements to identify everyone he met and dealt with. After nearly two months of constant surveillance, we felt we had gathered enough information. So, on October 1, we decided to carry out the raid,” said the officer.

The Special Cell subsequently nabbed Goyal and Jain. The latter had come from Mumbai to buy 15 kg of cocaine from Goyal at his three-storey godown. The police found the contraband concealed in plastic packets on the top floor. The building was used by Goyal’s father, who runs a publishing business, to store books, said the officer.

(With inputs from agencies)