In a big drug haul, a joint team of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Delhi Police have seized a large cache of narcotics worth Rs 27.4 crore and arrested five persons including four Nigerians from Chattarpur area. Delhi Police sources said the seizure included high-quality crystal methamphetamine, Afghan heroin, and MDMA (Methylene-dioxy-methamphetamine).

Announcing the seizure, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said, “The NCB and Delhi Police grabbed the gang by its throat and recovered methamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine worth Rs 27.4 crore and arrested five people,” in a social media post. Shah also said the government’s relentless hunt against drugs trade will continue. “In line with the Modi government’s zero tolerance against drugs, a major narco-network was busted in Delhi-NCR. The NCB and Delhi Police grabbed the gang by its throat and recovered methamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine worth Rs 27.4 crore and arrested five people,” the home minister said. He also lauded the NCB and Delhi Police for the major breakthrough.

Investigation revealed about involvement of this syndicate in facilitating African youth peddling drugs and narcotics, in getting student visas for study at major private universities of National Capital Region (NCR) as well as Punjab.

For some of the students, the visa was only a cover for their stay in India where as they were involved in supplying drugs and Crypto conversions. Investigations to identify the backward and forward linkages of this drug syndicate is underway.

Giving details about the haul, a Home Ministry statement said on receipt of an input about an imminent exchange of high-quality Methamphetamine in Chhatarpur area of Delhi a joint team of NCB and Special cell of the Delhi Police mounted surveillance on the suspects leading to interception of a vehicle carrying 5.103 kilograms of High-quality Crystal Methamphetamine valued at Rs 10.2 crore (approximately). Five occupants of the vehicle including four African Nationals belonging to influential family of Nigeria have been arrested.

Sustained on-the-spot, interrogation and technical backtracking revealed that this contraband was sourced from an African Kitchen in the Tilak Nagar area of West Delhi. Search at this kitchen led to recovery of 1.156 kilograms Crystal Methamphetamine, 4.142 kilograms Afghan Heroine and 5.776 kilograms MDMA (Ecstasy pills) valued at Rs 16.4 crore (approximately).

Further, a follow-up search at a rented apartment at Greater Noida led to a recovery of 389 grams of Afghan Heroin and 26 grams of cocaine.

 The seizure exemplifies the NCB’s commitment to successfully dismantle drug networks. To fight against drug trafficking, NCB seeks support of the citizens. Any person can share information related to sale of narcotics by calling on MANAS- National Narcotics Helpline Toll Free Number-1933.

In November last year, the NCB had confiscated 82.53 kg of high-grade cocaine in New Delhi. The massive drug consignment worth approximately Rs 900 crore was tracked down by a bottom-to-top approach after a quantity of drugs was seized in a courier center in Delhi. In this case, the initial recovery,from a courier shop in Delhi, was from a parcel which was destined to Australia. The team NCB, used the backtracking method to reach to the bulk quantity which was concealed at Janakpuri and Nangloi, Delhi.

Last year in October,  the NCB and Delhi Police seized 200 kilograms of cocaine valued at Rs 2,000 crore from west Delhi’s Ramesh Nagar. Before this, the Delhi Police busted an international drug syndicate and seized more than 602 kg of cocaine in the national capital’s Mahipalpur in early October. The police valued the consignment at Rs 6,500 crore in the international market.

Meanwhile, in a major blow to drug trafficking in the national capital, the Crime Branch of Delhi Police arrested two individuals with possession of 548 grams of heroin worth over Rs 1.5 crore in the international market. According to the police, the arrested accused have been identified as Pooja Devi and Rohit. The operation, conducted under the ‘Nasha Mukht Bharat Abhiyaan,’ was carried out by the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Delhi Police. The team worked tirelessly to track down the accused, who were supplying heroin in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).

Pooja Devi, one of the accused, was arrested on December 4, 2024, with 415 grams of heroin. Further investigation revealed that the source of the recovered heroin was Rohit, a resident of Sultanpuri, Delhi. Rohit was subsequently arrested on March 24, 2025, with 133 grams of heroin.

The police are continuing their investigation to uncover the entire chain of drug trafficking. The accused, Pooja Devi and Rohit, have confessed to their involvement in the drug trade, revealing that they started supplying heroin to various people after getting attracted to the lucrative business.