Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 25: The anti-narcotics squad of the West District of Delhi Police on Sunday busted an inter-state cannabis supply network, arrested three accused and seized more than 26.46 kg of ganja.
The three suspects were arrested in the Khyala area, with the contraband recovered from multiple locations, including an e-rickshaw, rented accommodation and a courier consignment.
The accused have been identified as Chandan Kumar, Nitesh Kumar and Vicky Kumar, all aged between 22 and 25 years. They have been booked under Sections 20, 25 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
According to the police, the network operated across Delhi, Bihar and Odisha, using courier services to transport the contraband. The smugglers allegedly concealed the narcotics in cartons and boxes to evade detection during transit.
The network came under the scanner during a routine patrol by the anti-narcotics team in Khyala. Chandan Kumar, 22, was apprehended after his e-rickshaw was checked, leading to the recovery of 16.906 kg of ganja. A further 5.354 kg was recovered from his rented accommodation in JJ Colony, Khyala.
During interrogation, Chandan allegedly disclosed that the ganja had been procured from Odisha through courier parcels arranged by Nitesh Kumar, a Bihar resident.
The contraband was allegedly concealed in saree boxes, sound boxes and cartons meant for RO water purifiers to facilitate transportation to Delhi for distribution among local drug peddlers.
The investigation revealed that Nitesh allegedly operated the network from Bihar using a mobile phone to direct his associates in Odisha and Delhi. Consignments were dispatched from Odisha through a courier company and received in Delhi by Chandan Kumar and Vicky Kumar.
Nitesh allegedly used the same mobile number to coordinate with his associates and courier personnel. He reportedly provided false or incomplete delivery addresses on parcels so that courier staff would contact him using the number mentioned on the consignments, allowing him to coordinate their receipt in Delhi.
During further interrogation, the police learnt that another consignment from Odisha was expected to arrive in Delhi, concealed inside an RO-purifier carton.
Acting on the information, the team made enquiries at several courier offices and identified the suspected delivery point in Khyala. The police then laid a trap to apprehend the person arriving to collect the parcel.
Vicky Kumar, 22, was apprehended near S Block in Vishnu Garden, Khyala, when he allegedly arrived to receive the consignment. Around 4.206 kg of ganja was recovered from him, taking the total seizure in the case to 26.466 kg.
The investigation further revealed that Vicky allegedly received and delivered ganja consignments on Nitesh Kumar's instructions for onward supply to local drug peddlers in Delhi.