Police dismantle drug racket, arrest 4
Delhi Police’s Crime Branch has dismantled a major interstate drug network and seized psychotropic substances worth over Rs 4.5 crore, officials said on Sunday. Four accused have been arrested in the operation led by the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF).
Deputy Commissioner of Police (ANTF) Rahool Alwal said the action was part of a sustained crackdown on organised narcotics trade. “This was a well-organised network dealing in commercial quantities of psychotropic drugs. We have seized large consignments and arrested key operatives. Further investigation is underway,” he said.
Police said a total of 3.539 kg of Alprazolam tablets, valued at around Rs 3.5 crore in the international market, and 1.709 kg of Tramadol tablets and capsules, worth about Rs 1 crore, were recovered during the operation.
The case was registered under relevant sections of the NDPS Act at the Crime Branch police station on March 18. According to officials, the operation began on March 17 after specific intelligence inputs were received about a drug consignment being moved in northeast Delhi. Acting on the information, a police team laid a trap at Shiv Vihar Tiraha on Johripur Road.
During the interception, one accused, Nitin Pathak (20), along with a child in conflict with the law, was caught while transporting narcotics on a motorcycle.
Police recovered 11,900 Alprazolam tablets weighing 1.912 kg and 825 Tramadol tablets weighing 0.491 kg from them. Further investigation led to a series of follow-up raids. Based on Pathak’s interrogation, police raided a medical store in Bhopura, Uttar Pradesh, owned by Prem Singh Yadav (30). From his shop, 2,250 Tramadol capsules weighing 1.218 kg were recovered. He was arrested on March 19.
Subsequently, on March 21, another accused, Shalu Kumar (45), was arrested after a raid at his residence. Police recovered 11,955 Alprazolam tablets weighing 1.627 kg from him.
In the next phase of the operation, Sanjay Singh (36) was arrested on March 23 following disclosures made by Shalu Kumar. Police said the accused were part of a structured supply chain dealing in illegal pharmaceutical drugs. Investigators found that each member had a specific role in procurement, storage, and distribution.
Nitin Pathak, a B.Sc. graduate and former medical representative, allegedly entered the illegal trade after learning about the high demand for such drugs.
