Delhi: Four Nigerians and an aide arrested with drugs valued at Rs 27 crore; HM Amit Shah praises enforcement action

New Delhi, March 31 (NationPress) Four Nigerians, along with an aide, were apprehended and narcotics valued at Rs 27 crore seized during a crackdown on a significant narco-network in Delhi-NCR. This operation was a collaborative effort by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Special Cell of the Delhi Police, an official reported on Monday.

The network operated across Tilak Nagar in west Delhi, Chhatarpur in south Delhi, and Greater Noida.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the achievements of the enforcing agencies and reaffirmed the commitment to persist in the unyielding fight against drug trafficking.

In a post on the X platform, the Home Minister stated, “In alignment with the Modi government’s zero tolerance policy on drugs, a significant narco-network was dismantled in Delhi-NCR. The NCB and Delhi Police have effectively neutralized the gang, recovering methamphetamine, MDMA, and cocaine worth Rs 27.4 crore and arresting five individuals. I commend the NCB and Delhi Police for this substantial achievement.”

An official release mentioned that upon receiving intelligence about a forthcoming exchange of high-quality Methamphetamine in the Chhatarpur area of south Delhi, a joint team from the NCB and the Special Cell of the Delhi Police initiated surveillance on the suspects.

This surveillance resulted in the interception of a vehicle transporting 5.103 kilograms of high-quality Crystal Methamphetamine valued at Rs 10.2 crore. Five individuals in the vehicle, including four from a prominent Nigerian family, were arrested.

Ongoing questioning and technical tracking disclosed that the illegal substances were sourced from an African kitchen in the Tilak Nagar area of west Delhi.

A search at this kitchen led to the discovery of 1.156 kilograms of Crystal Methamphetamine, 4.142 kilograms of Afghan Heroin, and 5.776 kilograms of MDMA (Ecstasy pills), valued at Rs 16.4 crore.

A subsequent search at a rented apartment in Greater Noida uncovered 389 grams of Afghan Heroin and 26 grams of cocaine.

Investigations revealed that the syndicate facilitated the movement of African nationals for drug trafficking by arranging student visas for them to enroll in major private universities in the National Capital Region (NCR) as well as Punjab.

For some students, the visa served merely as a cover for their stay in India, during which they distributed drugs and engaged in crypto conversions.

An official mentioned that to combat drug trafficking, the NCB seeks public assistance to report narcotic sales by calling the MANAS – National Narcotics Helpline, Toll-Free Number-1933.