Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 27: In a significant anti-narcotics operation, the Delhi Police Crime Branch has dismantled an organised drug trafficking syndicate involved in illegally sourcing and attempting to export psychotropic substances to the United States via international courier services.
According to an official statement released on April 27, the operation led to the seizure of large commercial quantities of controlled medicines, including Zolpidem, Tramadol, and Diazepam. Officials said the network relied on forged KYC documents, fake invoices, and coordinated courier routes to smuggle drugs abroad while communicating through digital platforms.
The case originated in September 2025, when authorities intercepted a suspicious parcel at a courier facility in Moti Nagar, Delhi. The shipment, which was bound for the United States, was found to contain psychotropic substances concealed within ordinary goods packaging. The case was subsequently registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act).
Following a detailed investigation involving financial tracking, digital communications, courier records, and technical surveillance, five individuals were arrested and chargesheeted: Abhishek Bhargava, Yasar Khan, Nitin, Neeraj Raghav, and Amitesh Rai.
Investigators identified Yasar Khan as the alleged mastermind of the operation. He was reportedly responsible for sourcing drugs, coordinating with overseas buyers, and managing financial transactions through bank transfers and UPI payments. Police also noted that he had a prior criminal case linked to drug trafficking in Lucknow.
Authorities said the syndicate procured pharmaceutical drugs through distributors using manipulated invoices. The substances were then carefully concealed in parcels labelled as harmless items such as textile or cotton-based products. To avoid detection, batch numbers on medicine strips were deliberately obscured.
During the interception, investigators recovered over 3,500 tablets of Zolpidem and more than 2,500 tablets of Tramadol. Additional recoveries made during follow-up raids included quantities of Diazepam and other controlled substances.
The Crime Branch stated that the operation highlights ongoing efforts to combat organised drug trafficking networks exploiting courier channels for international smuggling.