Investigation in the Delhi-based multi-crore international synthetic drug racket have pegged the international market value of synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals smuggled into Canada through three consignments at Rs800 crore.
Acting on the disclosures made by arrested Delhi-based drug racket kingpin Dev Behl and his associates Rakesh Tinku and Mohinder, the Punjab Police on Friday recovered 50 kilos precursor chemical pseudoephedrine worth Rs50 crore in the international market.
The Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hardyal Singh Mann said that investigations have revealed that Dev Behl was a ruthless operator who obtained his raw materials, including precursor chemicals ephedrine and pseudoephedrine from India, processed them in factories located in HP, Delhi and other States and smuggled them to Canada.
“The primary recipient of contraband consignments has been identified as Iqbal Singh alias Pala, based in Toronto,”
he said.
Mann said that Behl’s interrogation revealed that he operated in tandem with Ravi Shankar and the duo jointly manufactured synthetic drugs in a factory in Baddi.
“Ravi Shankar decided to shift his operations to North America, and sold out his share to Dev Behl who became sole owner and started operating in Canada and US. Shankar started drug smuggling from Canada to US on a very large-scale, but soon became embroiled in drug wars which are common in Canada and US as his quick rise attracted enemies in drug trade,” said the SSP.
He added that according to Behl, Shankar was arrested in the US on the charges of murder and subsequently, his involvement in the drug trade was also revealed.
“According to the questioning of the arrested persons, Delhi-based racket used all available means for luring international clients. Behl used women to win over contacts in the Canadian drug underworld,” said Mann.
He said that the arrested persons were produced before the competent court which has granted three-day police remand up to December 9, which would be used for further custodial interrogation of the accused.