Synthetic drug trafficking: anti-narcotics squads zero in on more foreign nationals

A State-level anti-narcotics squad has zeroed in on a few more foreign nationals suspected of having key roles in the discreet synthetic drug trafficking network spanning multiple South Indian States.

According to official sources, the suspects, believed to be maintaining a hotline with inter-State drug pushers in Kerala and Karnataka, are being put under scanner as part of a nationwide crackdown on kingpins in the illegal business.

Preliminary findings confirm that some of these individuals made their entry into India on student visas and were enrolled in professional courses. Authorities suspect they engaged in drug trafficking activities while pursuing their studies in various graduation and post-graduation courses.

Revenue generated from these operations is believed to have supported their luxury lifestyle during their stay.

Widening probe

The investigation widened following the recent arrests of some of the suspected African nationals from Bengaluru and Delhi. These individuals were found to be part of drug networks with reach across several cities in South India. He revealed that analysis of their digital records, including call details, messages, reportedly led investigators to more names involved in the supply chain.

Enforcement squad members confirmed that a comprehensive probe was underway with efforts focussed on verifying the real identities, movements, and affiliations of those identified. The probe is aimed at exposing the potential links with larger drug syndicates operating within and beyond the country, they added.

Joining the State-level squad, the Kozhikode city police were able to uncover a synthetic drug production unit in Gurugram, Haryana, in coordination with the police squads from Delhi and Haryana. The operation took place following the arrest of Siraj, 31, a native of Malappuram, at Kozhikode railway station six months ago with 778 grams of MDMA. Investigations revealed that he sourced the drugs from a Nigerian national in Delhi.

Drug kitchen

The digital and financial trails led to the identification of two Nigerian nationals and their locations in Haryana and Delhi. Acting on further tip off from the Kozhikode city police, the Haryana police raided a “drug kitchen” in Gurugram and arrested eight people — six Nigerians, a Nepali and a Mizoram native.

Seizures included 1.60 kg ‘Sulfa’, known as sniffing drugs, 904 grams of cocaine, 2.34 kg of raw cocaine, 42 mobile phones and packing materials with an estimated value of ₹1 crore.

A senior officer with the State-level Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force said many of the foreign nationals previously caught for drug-trafficking cases were found lacking valid visas and were experts in using dark web to promote their illegal business.

He said efforts were on to identify more people based on the digital data recovered by the cyber forensic squad and IT experts from the mobile phone of the previously arrested international drug pushers and their local counterparts.