Drugs worth $215 million seized in India's Bhopal, days after $667 million bust in Delhi

Days after drugs worth $667 million were recovered in the national capital of Delhi, the authorities have seizeda large quantity of MD (mephedrone) drugand raw material used to make them, valued at Rs 1,814 crore ($215 million) from a factory near the central Indian city of Bhopal in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

The operation to seizethe drugs was jointly carried out by theGujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), according to Gujarat Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi.

"Kudos to Gujarat ATS and NCB (Ops), Delhi, for a massive win in the fight against drugs! Recently, they raided a factory in Bhopal and seized MD and materials used to manufacture MD, with a staggering total value of Rs 1814 crores!," Sanghavi said on X (formerly Twitter).

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"This achievement showcases the tireless efforts of our law enforcement agencies in combating drug trafficking and abuse. Their collaborative efforts are crucial in safeguarding the health and security of our society," he added.

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Drug bust in Delhi

Over 500 kg of cocaine and 40 kg of hydroponic marijuana, cumulatively worth Rs 5,600 crore ($667 million) wereseized by the authorities in New Delhi on Wednesday (Oct 2), in what was described as one of the biggest busts in recent times.

According to the police,15 kg of cocaine was recovered from the possession of the main accused Tushar Goyal and his aides, Himanshu and Aurangzeb, while the remaining marijuana and cocaine were found in agodown.

"Around 15 kg of cocaine was recovered from the personal possession of Tushar Goyal, Himanshu and Aurangzeb. They were caught when they were coming out of the godown in Mahipalpur Extension to give the supply to the receiver. Remaining marijuana and cocaine were found in the godown," Additional Commissioner of Police Special Cell, Pramod Singh Kushwaha said.

According to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Tushar Goyal,the kingpin of the drug cartel, has ties to the Congress party where he was thechief of the Indian Youth Congress RTI (Right to Information) Cell.

"The main accused and kingpin in the drug syndicate, Tushar Goyal is the chief of Indian Youth Congress RTI Cell...What relations does the Congress party have with him? Was this money being used in elections by the Congress party?," questioned BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi.

PM Narendra Modi also slammed Congress and said the grand old party was leading thenation's youth towardsdrug addiction.

(With inputs from agencies)