NEW DELHI: In a major crackdown on synthetic drug trafficking, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Delhi Police’s special cell seized 329 kg of methamphetamine worth Rs 262 crore from a house in south Delhi’s Chattarpur on Nov 20. Two people were arrested.The joint exercise, codenamed Operation Crystal Fortress, was an intelligence-driven effort to dismantle a transnational drug network. Investigators believe the cartel is linked to a foreign-based kingpin who is also wanted in last year’s seizure of 83 kg cocaine in Delhi.Also read: Interstate cancer drug racket busted; 3 land in police net in GhaziabadSaying that the Centre “is shattering drug cartels at an unprecedented pace”, Union home minister Amit called the operation “a brilliant example of seamless multi-agency coordination to achieve PM Modi’s vision for a drug-free India”.Officers in the know of things said that the breakthrough followed months of surveillance and technical intercepts that exposed a well-oiled cartel using multiple couriers, safe houses and layered handlers, with Delhi as a key hub for domestic and overseas distribution of drugs.One of the arrested suspects, Shane Waris (25), a resident of Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, was picked up from Noida’s Sector 5 on Nov 20. Employed as a sales manager in a company, Waris allegedly operated under instructions from his handler.Also read: Drugs racket busted in Navi Mumbai, Punjab link unravelled; one heldHe was directed to use fake SIM cards and encrypted apps, such as WhatsApp and Zangi, to discreetly run the operations.During interrogation, Waris admitted to his role in the syndicate and provided crucial leads to the investigators, including identifying a woman associate, Esther Kinimi from Nagaland, who recently managed one of the narcotic consignments transported through a rider of a logistics platform.Waris shared her address, contact numbers and other operational details with the investigators.Acting on Waris’ inputs, NCB personnel raided Kinimi’s Chattarpur Enclave Phase 2 residence the same day, recovering the massive consignment. She was arrested with assistance from Nagaland Police.Also read: Cops bust pan-India narco racket, seize 100-crore drugsPreliminary findings suggest that the syndicate was part of a larger cartel. “The investigation indicates Waris was actively involved in a synthetic drug trafficking syndicate functioning under foreign operators,” an officer said.Authorities are now working with international enforcement agencies to trace the kingpin and secure his deportation to India so that he could face legal proceedings.Further investigation is required to map the entire supply chain, financial trail, logistics nodes, and potential storage points, the officer said.This seizure is among the largest of methamphetamine in Delhi. The investigators said efforts are underway to dismantle the entire network and prevent its tentacles from spreading to overseas markets.
