Gujarat Police arrest 13th accused in ₹226 crore crypto-drug-terror network
Synopsis
A courier company owner from Ahmedabad ran an Instagram drug-sales handle called 'UK_MEDICINEONWHEEL' while allegedly converting terror-linked crypto into cash — and he is just the 13th in a chain. Gujarat CID's expanding ₹226 crore probe now spans Dubai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Goa, and the UK postal network, with the financial figure still climbing as more wallets are cracked.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat CID arrested Shabbarhusen Padele , 35, of Sarkhej, Ahmedabad — the 13th accused in the case — on 16 June .
The probe covers alleged cryptocurrency-based terror financing , dark web drug trafficking , and transactions exceeding ₹226 crore .
Mohammad Zubair Poptiya , based in Dubai , is identified as a key figure; funds were routed through Monero and Binance-linked wallets .
The network allegedly supplied drugs to UK customers via dark web and Telegram , dispatching consignments through Royal Mail .
Padele operated an Instagram account ('UK_MEDICINEONWHEEL') for customer outreach and owns a courier company in Ahmedabad now under scrutiny.
The financial scope may exceed ₹226 crore as investigators analyse additional cryptocurrency wallets.
Gujarat CID Crime's Cyber Centre of Excellence has arrested a 13th accused in its sprawling investigation into an alleged international syndicate involving cryptocurrency-based terror financing, dark web drug trafficking, and cross-border financial flows exceeding ₹226 crore, officials confirmed on Tuesday, 16 June. The latest arrest marks a significant expansion of a probe that has already netted a dozen individuals across multiple cities.
Who Was Arrested
Shabbarhusen Padele, aged 35, a resident of Sarkhej, Ahmedabad, was taken into custody after investigators traced his role in converting 'dirty crypto' — funds allegedly linked to terror financing channels — into USDT and cash. According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajdeepsinh Jhala, Padele was apprehended in Goa after allegedly evading arrest by moving between Hyderabad and Goa. Records indicate he had also briefly travelled to Dubai after the offence was registered before returning to India.
How the Network Operated
Investigators say the syndicate operated through a compartmentalised structure in which different individuals handled ordering, coordination, and delivery separately. Mohammad Zubair Poptiya, currently based in Dubai, has been identified as a key figure, with funds allegedly routed through cryptocurrency wallets operated in coordination with other accused persons.
Transactions were traced through wallets linked to Zeeshan Siraj Motiwala — a relative of Poptiya, previously arrested from Mumbai. Officials confirmed the use of Monero and Binance-linked wallets within the syndicate, forming part of a structured financial conversion system involving Mohsin Molani, Salman Ansari, and others.
The UK Drug Connection
According to officials, Mohsin Molani was responsible for receiving drug orders from United Kingdom-based customers through dark web platforms and Telegram channels, which were then routed to UK-based handlers. Salman Ansari and associates allegedly distributed narcotics within the UK using postal services, including Royal Mail, as part of the network's logistics chain.
Padele's role extended to customer acquisition: he had created an Instagram account under the handle 'UK_MEDICINEONWHEEL', allegedly used to identify and communicate with drug buyers in the United Kingdom. He also coordinated with Molani and operated a courier-based arrangement linking drug consignments to UK-based associates.
Padele's Business and Digital Footprint
Officials confirmed that Padele is the owner of a courier company in Ahmedabad, and his international consignment activities are currently under examination. However, investigators clarified that there is no conclusive evidence at this stage directly linking the courier business to drug shipments, with the probe focused on digital evidence — including Instagram communications and cryptocurrency transaction trails.
A mobile phone was seized from the accused. The case has been registered under Sections 111(2)(B), 153, and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2008.
Financial Scope Still Expanding
SP Jhala noted that the financial scope of the case remains under review and may exceed ₹226 crore as additional cryptocurrency wallets and transactions are analysed. The investigation continues, and further arrests cannot be ruled out as digital evidence is processed.
Point of View
Mumbai, and Ahmedabad is notable — but the real test is whether the Dubai-based alleged kingpin, Poptiya, can be extradited or whether the investigation stalls at the domestic facilitators. With the financial figure still open-ended and 13 arrests spread across multiple states, this case also raises questions about inter-agency coordination: how a network of this scale operated undetected long enough to move over ₹226 crore.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Shabbarhusen Padele and why was he arrested?
Shabbarhusen Padele is a 35-year-old Ahmedabad resident and courier company owner arrested by Gujarat CID as the 13th accused in a ₹226 crore crypto-drug-terror financing case. He allegedly converted terror-linked cryptocurrency into cash and ran an Instagram account to recruit UK-based drug buyers.
What is the Gujarat CID crypto-drug network case about?
It is an ongoing investigation by Gujarat CID Crime's Cyber Centre of Excellence into an alleged international syndicate that used cryptocurrency — including Monero and Binance-linked wallets — for terror financing and dark web drug trafficking, with cross-border transactions exceeding ₹226 crore. The network allegedly supplied narcotics to UK customers via Royal Mail and Telegram.
Who are the other key accused in the case?
Mohammad Zubair Poptiya, currently based in Dubai, is identified as a key figure. Other accused include Zeeshan Siraj Motiwala (arrested from Mumbai), Mohsin Molani (allegedly coordinated UK drug orders), and Salman Ansari (allegedly handled UK distribution). A total of 13 people have been arrested so far.
What charges have been filed against the accused?
The case is registered under Sections 111(2)(B), 153, and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2008, covering offences related to organised crime, cyber fraud, and identity theft.
Could the financial scope of the case grow beyond ₹226 crore?
Yes. Officials have stated that the ₹226 crore figure remains under review and may increase as investigators analyse additional cryptocurrency wallets and transaction records linked to the network.
