After 3-week search, NCB nabs Jaffer Sadiq in Delhi

CHENNAI: Tamil film producer and dismissed DMK functionary AR Jaffer Sadiq (36), said to be the kingpin of an international cartel that supplied pseudoephedrine worth several hundred crores to Australia and New Zealand, was arrested by NCB officials early Saturday morning after three weeks of search.

NCB deputy director general (operations) Gyaneshwar Singh told the media that Sadiq’s links with personalities in the Tamil film industry and “political funding” are under scrutiny.

Jaffer Sadiq, who was already under the radar of Mumbai Customs and DRI (Directorate of Revenue Intelligence) for allegedly smuggling ketamine to Malaysia, was nailed by the NCB after a joint operation with Delhi police on February 15, in which three of his accomplices were arrested after a raid at a firm purportedly owned by Sadiq, ‘Aventa’ in Delhi’s Basai Darapur area. About 50 kg of pseudoephedrine was seized from the godown in Delhi.

NCB investigations revealed that the gang smuggled about 3,500 kg of pseudoephedrine in 45 consignments in the last three years, hiding them in coconut powder and food products.

According to NCB officials, Sadiq allegedly used to get Rs 1 lakh per kg “cut” (commission) from the smuggling of the narcotics and NCB is looking to ascertain the source of pseudoephedrine.

“Pseudoephedrine is a precursor chemical that is used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, a dangerous and highly addictive synthetic drug. Even though it has some legal uses, it is classified as a controlled substance in India, bringing strict regulation on its production, possession, trade, export and use. Illegal possession and trade is punishable up to 10 years of imprisonment under the NDPS Act, 1985,” an official release stated. “Sadiq had invested the drug money in avenues such as film production, construction, real estate, hospitality and other businesses. The drug money’s trail will be unearthed. Our investigations have revealed that Sadiq is the operation’s mastermind,” Gyaneshwar Singh said.

Singh also explained that Sadiq went into hiding after the bust in February 15. He travelled to Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad and Jaipur. NCB officials said that he was arrested in Delhi.

“Big money was invested in film production. A Tamil film, Mangai, was made entirely on drug money,” Gyaneshwar Singh said.

NCB officials said preliminary investigations had revealed that some big names in the Tamil film industry have taken their cut in drug money.

“The money trail is under investigation. I’m confident my team will trace the link. We’ll seek custody of the offenders, and investigate everybody connected with drugs or the drug trade. Anybody in contravention of the NDPS Act will be treated as accused,” added Singh.

Sadiq, who was the NRI wing deputy secretary in the DMK, was expelled from the party recently after his name surfaced in the NCB case.

He already had a tryst with law enforcement in Chennai and was first arrested in 2013 for the possession of pseudoephedrine. DT Next had reported on how he managed to wriggle out of the case, thanks to Chennai police’s inefficient handling of the matter in court. From a four-month delay in submitting the seized drug to a forensic science laboratory for chemical analysis to discrepancies in the seized drug submitted for analysis, the prosecution’s case was weakened by the Chennai police more than anything.

Sadiq and four others were acquitted by a city court in 2017.

His arrest has triggered a war of words, with the Opposition leaders in TN condemning the DMK for harbouring a drug offender.