Two peddlers arrested with heroin, Alprazolam worth ₹5.6 crore: Cops

NEW DELHI: The special cell of Delhi Police has arrested two persons, including a 61-year-old man, and claimed to have busted an interstate drug cartel. The police have seized one kilogram of heroin and two kilograms of Alprazolam medicine, in powder form, from the accused.

Police said the arrested men, Manohar Singh, 31, and his trusted carrier Fakruddin Rangrej, both from Madhya Pradesh, were allegedly involved in sale and supply of heroin and Aplrazolam to drug dealers in DelhiNCR, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The international market value of the seized heroin is around ₹4 crore and the Alprazolam powder is ₹1.6 crore, said police.

Alprazolam is a pharmaceutical medicine, which is a scheduled drug (according to the narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (NDPS) Act) and cannot be sold in open market without a prescription.

It is a minor tranquilliser that is commonly used for the treatment of anxiety disorders, especially panic disorder, a police officer said.

Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, deputy commissioner of police (special cell), said Alprazolam powder tends to be misused by people involved in sale and supply of drugs. “The peddlers mix the power with heroin to increase the quantity of the contraband and the impact of the drug on its users. The cost of one kilogram of Alprazolam is ₹1.6 crore,” said Yadav.

DCP Yadav said the special cell team had received inputs that peddlers were pushing heroin and Aplrazolam in Delhi and adjoining states. The information was developed and it was learnt that two members of one such racket would come near Japanese Park in Rohini to supply a consignment of heroin and Alprazolam on Thursday.

“Accordingly, a trap was set and Manohar Singh and Fakruddin Rangrej nabbed with the contraband.,” Yadav said.