Six kg heroin worth ₹24 crore seized from three in IP Park

NEW DELHI: Three men have been arrested with six kilograms of heroin worth ₹24 crore in the international market, Delhi Police’s special cell said on Tuesday.

The heroin was manufactured in Manipur using opium cultivated across the border in Myanmar, Pramod Kushwah, deputy commissioner of police (special cell), said.

“The arrested men told us that the drug manufactured using Myanmar’s opium is superior in quality and cheaper than what is made in India,” said the officer.

“Over the years, the demand for heroin produced in tradi- tional areas of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh has diminished. Instead, users prefer heroin smuggled from Manipur and Myanmar,” the officer added.

The arrested men are Taib Ali, Islamuddin and Shohidur Rahman Joddar. They were allegedly arrested from Indraprastha Park in central Delhi on Sunday evening after the special cell was tipped off about their arrival.

“We were aware of this drug cartel and had identified its members. For the last three months, we were waiting for an opportunity to nab them,” said the DCP.

Police said Taib Ali was the one who got the heroin smuggled from Manipur to Delhi. The two other men were his receivers in Delhi. Working as a drug carrier in the early stages of his career, Taib Ali had created his own network to get heroin supplied to Delhi, police alleged.

“Taib Ali has been in the drug smuggling profession for nearly a decade. He uses trucks plying between Manipur and Delhi to smuggle the contraband,” the officer said.

“He has admitted to smuggling 120 kilos of heroin into the city In the last three years,” said the officer.

The special cell said this is the 10th drug cartel busted by the unit this year. “We have so far recovered more than 64 kilos of heroin in less than five months this year,” said Kushwah.