Delhi Police busts interstate heroin network, seizes ₹60 crore drugs; 7 held
Synopsis
Delhi Police traced a heroin pipeline from a Jharkhand farm to a Lucknow lab and onto Delhi streets — arresting seven people across four states, seizing ₹60 crore worth of heroin and dismantling a full-chain operation that included illegal opium poppy cultivation in a Naxalite-affected district.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police arrested seven accused and recovered 8.128 kg of heroin worth approximately ₹60 crore in the international market.
A heroin manufacturing unit was raided in Sita Colony, Jankipuram, Lucknow on 4 October ; 6.275 kg of freshly produced heroin was seized.
The network spanned Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh , and Jharkhand , with illegal opium poppy cultivation traced to Chatra district, Jharkhand .
Police also seized 3.291 kg of chemicals , ₹12.81 lakh in cash, three SUVs , a motorcycle, and manufacturing equipment.
The operation was conducted under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan by the Special Staff of Rohini district , led by Inspector Sandeep Godara .
Delhi Police has dismantled an interstate heroin supply and manufacturing network spanning Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand, arresting seven accused and recovering 8.128 kg of heroin valued at approximately ₹60 crore in the international market. The month-long operation, concluded on 22 October 2026, also unearthed a functional heroin manufacturing unit and traced illegal opium poppy cultivation to a Naxalite-affected district in Jharkhand.
How the Operation Unfolded
The breakthrough came on 16 September, when the Special Staff of Rohini district received intelligence about narcotics movement in the Begumpur police station area. Acting on the tip-off, a team laid a trap in Sector 32, Begumpur, and intercepted a vehicle. Laxman Hooda, 58, a resident of Rohtak, Haryana, was arrested with 300 grams of heroin and ₹3 lakh in cash.
The following day, Anil alias Bhola, 51, from Sonipat, Haryana — who was reportedly a proclaimed offender after failing to surrender following interim bail in a previous NDPS case — was arrested, and 501 grams of heroin were recovered from his vehicle. According to the police, Anil has been implicated in 12 criminal cases.
Manufacturing Unit Traced to Lucknow
Technical surveillance and sustained interrogation led investigators to a heroin manufacturing facility in Sita Colony, Jankipuram, Lucknow, which was raided on 4 October. Bablu, 35, was arrested at the site, and police recovered 6.275 kg of freshly manufactured heroin along with 2.504 kg of sodium, 787 grams of acetic anhydride, and an array of production equipment including a gas cylinder, mixer-grinder, and an electronic weighing machine.
Interrogation of Bablu led police to Ruksar Ali alias Raju, the alleged owner and primary supplier of the manufacturing unit, who was subsequently apprehended in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. Ruksar had reportedly been previously implicated in three NDPS cases.
Supply Chain Dismantled Across States
On 6 October, Ajaj Ahmed, 38, was arrested in Bareilly for allegedly supplying crude opium to Ruksar; police recovered 501 grams of heroin and a motorcycle from him. Mohammad Azhar, 20, from Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, was arrested on 16 October for allegedly supplying heroin and crude opium to Ajaj. ₹9,81,700 in cash, 551 grams of heroin, and a car were seized from his possession.
The chain was traced back further on 18 October, when the team reached Chatra district, Jharkhand — a Naxalite-affected region — and arrested Prakash Kumar, 31, who allegedly supplied raw opium to the network and was involved in illegal opium poppy cultivation on his agricultural land.
Seizures and Key Personnel
In total, police seized 8.128 kg of heroin, 3.291 kg of chemicals and raw materials, ₹12.81 lakh in cash, three SUVs, a motorcycle, and drug manufacturing equipment. The operation was carried out by a team led by Inspector Sandeep Godara under the supervision of ACP (Operations) Ajmer Singh, under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan initiative. Further investigation is underway.
Point of View
Raw opium sourced from Naxalite-affected Jharkhand farmland, and a retail pipeline running into Delhi. The Jharkhand connection deserves scrutiny; if illegal poppy cultivation is taking root in conflict-affected districts, it points to a governance vacuum that enforcement operations alone cannot close. Repeat offenders featuring prominently among the arrested — including a proclaimed offender and individuals with multiple prior NDPS cases — also raises questions about how effectively the bail and surrender system is functioning.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Delhi Police seize in the heroin network bust?
Delhi Police seized 8.128 kg of heroin worth approximately ₹60 crore in the international market, along with 3.291 kg of chemicals and raw materials, ₹12.81 lakh in cash, three SUVs, a motorcycle, and drug manufacturing equipment. The operation also led to the dismantling of a heroin manufacturing unit in Lucknow.
How many people were arrested in the Delhi drug bust?
Seven people were arrested across four states — Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand — between 16 September and 18 October 2026. The accused included suppliers, the alleged owner of the manufacturing unit, and a person involved in illegal opium poppy cultivation.
Where was the heroin manufacturing unit located?
The heroin manufacturing unit was found in Sita Colony, Jankipuram, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and was raided on 4 October. Police arrested Bablu, 35, at the site and recovered 6.275 kg of freshly manufactured heroin along with chemicals and production equipment.
What is the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan?
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan is a government-led anti-drug campaign under which this operation was conducted. The Special Staff of Rohini district, Delhi, carried out the operation as part of this initiative, targeting narcotics supply and manufacturing networks.
Why is the Jharkhand connection significant in this case?
Prakash Kumar, 31, arrested from Chatra district, Jharkhand — a Naxalite-affected area — was allegedly involved in illegal opium poppy cultivation on his agricultural land and supplied raw opium to the network. This points to the drugs' supply chain originating from a region with existing security challenges.
