Delhi Police AATS arrests drug peddler with 1.957 kg ganja near Ghazipur
Synopsis
Delhi's Anti-Auto Theft Squad — not a narcotics unit — nabbed a drug peddler with nearly 2 kg of ganja near Ghazipur on 27 April, underlining how specialised police units are being repurposed to tackle the capital's growing street-level drug trade. Investigators are now tracing the supply chain back to Bihar.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police AATS, East District arrested drug peddler Neeraj Kumar (24) on 27 April 2026 near Goshala Road, Ghazipur .
1.957 kg of cannabis (ganja) was recovered from the accused's possession during a legal search.
The accused, a native of District Muzaffarpur, Bihar , reportedly admitted to local-level drug supply to fund his own addiction.
135/2026 registered at PS PIA under Sections 20, 61, and 85 of the NDPS Act .
Police are investigating backward and forward linkages in the drug supply network; criminal antecedents of the accused are being verified.
The Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS) of East District, Delhi Police, arrested a drug peddler and recovered 1.957 kg of cannabis (ganja) from his possession on 27 April 2026 near Goshala Road, Subzi Mandi, Ghazipur, New Delhi. The operation was conducted on the basis of specific intelligence inputs, officials confirmed on Saturday, 2 May 2026.
How the Operation Unfolded
A dedicated AATS team, deployed under the supervision of ACP/Operations and led by Inspector Pawan Yadav, Incharge AATS, had been conducting active surveillance and area domination duties in the locality. The team comprised SI Vikram Singh, SI Sandeep Singh, ASI Rajeev Kumar, and Head Constables Ashwani, Krishan, and Vikrant.
Upon receiving specific information about a person allegedly selling ganja near Goshala Road, the team reached the spot and laid surveillance. A suspicious individual was identified, and on noticing the police presence, he allegedly attempted to flee. He was subsequently chased and apprehended by the team.
Recovery and Accused's Profile
A search conducted in accordance with legal procedures led to the recovery of 1.957 kg of ganja from the accused's possession. During interrogation, the accused reportedly disclosed that he was involved in local-level drug supply, procuring ganja for further distribution to sustain his addiction and earn money, according to police.
The accused has been identified as Neeraj Kumar (24), a resident of Village Ram Nagar, Busra, under PS Gai Ghat, PO Hasna, District Muzaffarpur, Bihar. He is described as illiterate and works as a sweeper. Police said his criminal antecedents are being verified.
Legal Action Taken
An FIR No. 135/2026 has been registered at PS PIA under Sections 20, 61, and 85 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The accused has been taken on police custody remand, and further investigation is underway to identify associates and trace both backward and forward linkages in the supply chain.
Broader Context
This arrest is part of Delhi Police's stated zero-tolerance policy against narcotics at the local level. Notably, the AATS — primarily mandated to tackle auto theft — has been increasingly deployed for narcotics interdiction in East Delhi, reflecting a broader trend of multi-purpose deployment of specialised units amid rising drug trafficking concerns in the capital. Investigators are now working to establish whether the accused was part of a larger distribution network originating from outside Delhi.
Point of View
A problem that dedicated narcotics wings alone are evidently unable to contain. The accused's profile — young, migrant, illiterate, self-reportedly addicted — points to the demand-side vulnerability that enforcement alone cannot resolve. Tracing the supply chain to Muzaffarpur will be the real measure of this operation's worth; without dismantling the source network, arrests of street-level peddlers remain a holding action rather than a structural solution.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Delhi AATS drug bust near Ghazipur?
The arrested individual is Neeraj Kumar, aged 24 , a resident of Village Ram Nagar, Busra, District Muzaffarpur, Bihar. He was apprehended on 27 April 2026 near Goshala Road, Subzi Mandi, Ghazipur, by the Anti-Auto Theft Squad of East District, Delhi Police.
How much ganja was seized in the Delhi AATS operation?
Police recovered 1.957 kg of cannabis (ganja) from the accused's possession during a search conducted in accordance with legal procedures after he was apprehended near Ghazipur.
Under which law has the FIR been registered?
An FIR bearing No. 135/2026 has been registered at PS PIA under Sections 20, 61, and 85 of the NDPS Act . The accused has been taken on police custody remand.
What is the Anti-Auto Theft Squad and why was it involved in a drug operation?
The Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS) is a specialised Delhi Police unit primarily tasked with tackling vehicle theft. In this case, it was deployed for narcotics surveillance and area domination duties, reflecting broader multi-purpose deployment of specialised units to address rising drug trafficking concerns in East Delhi.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Further investigation is underway to identify the accused's associates and trace both backward and forward linkages in the drug supply network. The accused's criminal antecedents are also being verified by police.
