Gujarat drug haul accused shot in leg fleeing police during medical check-up
Synopsis
The alleged mastermind of a ₹25.65 crore drug seizure — already carrying convictions worth a combined 45 years — tried to snatch a cop's revolver and flee during a routine medical check-up near the Sabarmati Riverfront. The escape attempt, just five days after his arrest, puts a sharp spotlight on escort protocols for high-risk, repeat-offender detainees.
Key Takeaways
Kafeel Ahmed alias Javed, 59 , allegedly attempted to escape and snatch a revolver from Sub-Inspector Raval near the Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad on 26 October .
Police fired; the bullet struck Ahmed's leg.
Sub-Inspector Raval sustained a hand injury.
Both received medical treatment.
Ahmed was arrested on 21 October after a joint Ahmedabad-Surat Crime Branch operation recovered 4.5 kg of heroin and 2.5 kg of mephedrone worth ₹25.65 crore from a vehicle near the Ramol toll plaza .
Co-accused Tifle Naukhez, 44 , and Mohammed Imran alias Raja, 42 remain in remand.
Police allege the heroin was sourced from Kandahar, Afghanistan and the mephedrone from Rajasthan ; Ahmed reportedly has prior convictions totalling 45 years .
The alleged mastermind of a ₹25.65 crore drug seizure in Gujarat was shot in the leg by Ahmedabad Crime Branch personnel on Monday evening, 26 October, after he allegedly attempted to escape and snatch a police officer's revolver near the Sabarmati Riverfront during a routine medical examination.
What Happened Near the Sabarmati Riverfront
The accused, Kafeel Ahmed alias Javed, 59, was being escorted to a medical facility by a Crime Branch team led by Sub-Inspector Raval when the incident unfolded at around 4:30 pm. According to Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sharad Singhal, Ahmed allegedly struggled with the escorting personnel and attempted to snatch the sub-inspector's service revolver. Police fired, and the bullet struck Ahmed in the leg. Sub-Inspector Raval also sustained a hand injury during the scuffle. Both were subsequently taken for treatment, and the bullet was reportedly removed from Ahmed's leg.
Officials noted that Ahmed had earlier complained of chest pain and nausea, which prompted the medical check-up — a routine procedure for those in police remand.
The Original Drug Seizure on the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway
Ahmed is one of three men arrested on 21 October in a joint operation by the Ahmedabad and Surat Crime Branches. Investigators intercepted a Mahindra XUV near the Ramol toll plaza on the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway, recovering approximately 4.5 kg of heroin and 2.5 kg of mephedrone (MD). The drugs, valued at ₹25.65 crore at international market rates, were allegedly concealed inside packets of instant drinks and raisins.
The other two arrested individuals were identified as Tifle Naukhez, 44, and Mohammed Imran alias Raja, 42. All three were in police remand and being taken for their scheduled medical examinations when the escape attempt allegedly occurred.
Ahmed's Criminal History and the Alleged Network
Ahmedabad Crime Branch officials described Ahmed as the alleged mastermind of an interstate narcotics network. According to police, he has prior convictions in cases involving charas, alprazolam, and amphetamine — with combined sentences reportedly amounting to 45 years, though he had been released on bail. This is not his first encounter with narcotics law enforcement; his alleged re-entry into drug trafficking despite a lengthy conviction record underscores systemic gaps in post-release monitoring.
The original investigation leading to this seizure was initiated by the Surat Crime Branch approximately one and a half years ago following an earlier narcotics case. The Ahmedabad and Surat units subsequently coordinated intelligence and tracked the alleged network before intercepting the vehicle.
Interstate Network Under Probe
Investigators allege that the seized heroin was sourced through a contact in Kandahar, Afghanistan, while the mephedrone was reportedly procured from Rajasthan. Police suspect the consignment was destined for multiple distribution points across Gujarat, as the accused allegedly sought to rebuild their local supply chain. Authorities are now examining the broader interstate network, including alleged suppliers and intended recipients. The case adds to a pattern of cross-border narcotics flows into western India, with Gujarat's highway corridors increasingly flagged as transit routes by enforcement agencies.
Point of View
Career-offending detainees — a man with alleged combined sentences of 45 years was reportedly being walked to a medical facility by a small team, providing a window he allegedly tried to exploit. Gujarat's role as a transit corridor for Afghanistan-origin heroin is a well-documented enforcement concern, yet the post-arrest handling of the alleged network's kingpin appears to have been routine rather than hardened. The interstate dimensions of this case — Kandahar sourcing, Rajasthan supply, Gujarat distribution — also suggest a coordination challenge that no single state police unit can resolve alone, and that the National Investigation Agency may eventually need to examine.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kafeel Ahmed and why was he arrested?
Kafeel Ahmed, 59, also known as Javed, is the alleged mastermind of an interstate drug network arrested on 21 October 2026 in a joint operation by the Ahmedabad and Surat Crime Branches. Police recovered 4.5 kg of heroin and 2.5 kg of mephedrone worth ₹25.65 crore from a vehicle he was travelling in near the Ramol toll plaza on the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expressway.
How did the police shooting near the Sabarmati Riverfront happen?
On 26 October, while being escorted for a routine medical check-up near the Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmed allegedly struggled with the police team and tried to snatch Sub-Inspector Raval's revolver. Police fired in response, and the bullet struck Ahmed in the leg. Sub-Inspector Raval sustained a hand injury during the scuffle.
What drugs were seized and where were they hidden?
Police seized approximately 4.5 kg of heroin and 2.5 kg of mephedrone (MD), valued at ₹25.65 crore at international market rates. The drugs were allegedly concealed inside packets of instant drinks and raisins inside a Mahindra XUV intercepted near the Ramol toll plaza.
Where did the drugs allegedly come from?
According to investigators, the heroin was sourced through a contact in Kandahar, Afghanistan, while the mephedrone was reportedly procured from Rajasthan. Police believe the consignment was meant for distribution across multiple locations in Gujarat.
What is Kafeel Ahmed's criminal background?
According to the Ahmedabad Crime Branch, Ahmed has prior convictions in narcotics cases involving charas, alprazolam, and amphetamine. Officials stated that the combined sentences in those cases amounted to 45 years, and that he had been released on bail before his latest arrest.
