Is NCB Ready to Seize Rs 9.2 Crore in Assets from an Indian Associate of a Mexican Drug Cartel?

Synopsis
The NCB is poised to seize assets worth Rs 9.2 crore linked to a top suspect tied to a Mexican drug cartel. This operation follows the confiscation of significant amounts of Amphetamine in Noida, spotlighting the agency's efforts in combating international drug trafficking. Discover how this case unfolds and its implications.
Key Takeaways
- The NCB is set to seize assets worth Rs 9.20 crore.
- 95.501 kg of Amphetamine was seized in Noida.
- A luxury apartment and factory are among the properties targeted.
- The operation was a collaboration between the NCB and Delhi Police.
- The Mexican cartel financed the drug operation through cryptocurrency.
New Delhi, June 8 (NationPress) The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is set to seize immovable properties valued at Rs 9.20 crore belonging to a key suspect associated with a notorious Mexican drug cartel. This individual was linked to the possession of 95.501 kg of Amphetamine that was confiscated in Noida in October 2024, according to an official statement made on Sunday.
“The office of the Competent Authority and Administrator, acting under the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976 and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, has validated the attachment orders issued by the NCB (Operations branch),” the official noted.
The properties targeted for seizure include a luxury apartment located in Jaypee Greens and a factory site in Kasna Industrial Area, Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, both acquired through proceeds from international drug trafficking.
The operation was a collaborative effort between the NCB's operations branch and the Delhi Police Special Cell, uncovering a hidden Amphetamine manufacturing lab in the Kasna Industrial Area, where 95.501 kg of Amphetamine was seized in both solid and liquid forms.
Ongoing investigations have indicated that the mastermind behind this operation is a businessman based in Delhi, who is the principal manufacturer of the confiscated drugs, aided by four other suspects, including a Tihar Jail warden and a Mexican national.
This syndicate was engaged in the transnational smuggling of synthetic drugs. All five suspects have been arrested and are currently in judicial custody, the NCB reported.
Further investigation revealed that the financing for the clandestine lab was provided by the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), a notorious Mexican drug cartel. They transferred funds to Dubai using cryptocurrency, which were subsequently received in cash in New Delhi via hawala, in three separate installments.
An official emphasized that this case highlights the NCB's commitment to effectively dismantling drug trafficking networks and freezing assets acquired through illegal means.
The NCB also encourages public participation in the fight against drug trafficking. Citizens can report information about narcotics sales by calling the MANAS- National Narcotics Helpline Toll Free Number - 1933. Caller identities are kept confidential.