Delhi police busts 'shirt-collar' drug network run by African nationals

Ten alleged drug peddlers, including three foreign nationals, were arrested in Delhi-NCR for running a network that supplied narcotics to Telangana through courier services, police said on Friday (November 28). The department also noted that 40 foreign nationals linked to the network have also been detained for deportation proceedings.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Surender Kumar, while briefing the press in New Delhi, said that the cartel was busted in a joint operation by the Delhi and Telangana Police, in coordination with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), in the last 24 hours.

Narcotics in shirt collars

According to him, three months ago, Telangana Police busted a drug supply module in Hyderabad, uncovering a network that used courier services to transport narcotics. The investigation revealed that the transnational drug cartel was run predominantly by African nationals who would conceal contraband in the collars of shirts they sent via courier.

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"During the investigation, it was found that the drugs were being sourced from Delhi and supplied to Telangana. Multiple raids were carried out across Delhi-NCR, leading to the arrest of the 10 accused," Kumar said.

Delhi and Telangana police teams, formed after days of technical and manual surveillance, carried out raids at several locations, including Mehrauli, Sant Garh, Nilothi, Pratap Enclave, Greater Noida, Munirka, and Uttam Nagar.

African suspects in the cartel

The police officials noted that many of those involved in the narcotics module were from African countries.

During a raid in the Mohan Garden area, an Ugandan national, Zainab Kyobutungi alias Pamela (35), was arrested with 195 grams of cocaine, 24 grams of MDMA, and Rs 40,500 in cash. A case was registered against her under sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, officials said.

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A Nigerian national, Bekki alias Bekee (49), was arrested in another raid at Sant Garh in Tilak Nagar. Police said 5,209 ecstasy pills, 35.46 grams of cocaine, and Rs 78,000 in cash were seized from her. She allegedly disclosed supplying drugs to another Nigerian national, Frank, who was later arrested in Chander Vihar with 60 MD pills, police added.

The arrest of Jean Ahmad alias Godwin, who was wanted by Telangana Police, led to the recovery of 106.38 grams of cocaine and 107.83 grams of heroin from his locked house. Separate FIRs were registered in connection with these seizures.

Joint teams

The joint teams also arrested several Indian nationals who allegedly acted as key facilitators, managing finances, providing SIM cards, and supporting logistics for the cartel. Those arrested include Badruddin and his wife, Sama Umar, residents of Greater Noida, and Zafar from Mehrauli, who allegedly handled drug money.

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Delhi residents Titing Guite, S Joshua Guite, and Lal Khosei Selien were arrested for procuring and supplying SIM cards using fraudulent credentials to enable anonymous communication for peddlers, police said.

All the accused wanted by the Telangana Police have been handed over to the agency for further investigation.

Detention of 40 foreign nationals

During the raids, 40 foreign nationals, including 12 women, were found overstaying without valid documents. Men were shifted to a deportation facility, while the process for the women is underway in coordination with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), police added.

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Terming the action a major blow to the cartel’s operations, officers said the syndicate was engaged in smuggling cocaine, MDMA, heroin, and ecstasy. It used illegally-overstaying foreign nationals as carriers, operating through rented premises, and routing drug money through local handlers, they added.

Further investigation is in progress to trace the remaining members of the network and identify financial channels linked to the syndicate, police said.