Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 8: Two men, including a 27-year-old who had converted to Islam in 2021, have been arrested for allegedly running an international drug trafficking network with links to Bangladesh, police said on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as Aman Verma and Mohammed Rafiq, were apprehended during a police raid near Vasudev Ghat in the Civil Lines area on April 4. Police recovered 10.130 kilograms of high-grade ganja from their vehicle, and a subsequent raid at Aman’s residence in Ghaziabad led to the seizure of an additional 59.6 kilograms of the contraband, officials confirmed.

A senior police officer said Aman converted to Islam in 2021 and over time became a key conduit for a drug cartel operating across India and Bangladesh. “During interrogation, Aman disclosed that he had developed contacts in Bangladesh. Using those links, he began to source contraband through courier services from Bangladesh, Visakhapatnam, and Odisha,” the officer said.

Aman had moved to Delhi around six months ago and was working at a private firm in Ghaziabad. He reportedly told police that financial hardship drove him to drug trafficking. Police said it was co-accused Mohammed Rafiq who introduced him to the trade, luring him with the promise of easy money and a luxurious lifestyle.

“He has some contacts in Bangladesh. Since he has converted to Islam, he became a valuable asset to the drug cartel within a short period. He started trafficking the contraband in huge quantities via Visakhapatnam and Odisha,” the officer added.

Police also seized the car used in the smuggling operation, which was found to be registered under the name of one of Aman’s friends.

A case has been registered under sections 20, 25, and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Civil Lines police station. Investigations are ongoing to trace the wider network and identify other members of the syndicate, police said.