In a major crackdown, Delhi Police have busted an interstate drug cartel, arresting seven suspects involved in trafficking psychotropic substances across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana. The operation led to the seizure of approximately 48 kg of illicit drugs, estimated to be worth over Rs 50 crore in the black market. Authorities say the cartel was involved in the illegal repackaging and sale of controlled substances without prescriptions.

The investigation began in September 2025 after police received intelligence regarding the movement of large consignments of psychotropic substances. Acting on the information, officers intercepted Anirudh Rai in Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar, recovering 2 kg of powdered Tramadol, an opioid regulated under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. This led to the registration of a formal case against the syndicate.

Subsequent technical and human intelligence efforts revealed a wider network of traffickers, prompting coordinated raids across multiple states. Manoj Rai of Uttar Pradesh was arrested first, and his interrogation led to the capture of Kishan Pal, alias Bhullar, from Delhi, with 503 grams of Alprazolam recovered from his residence.

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The operation further led to the arrest of Krishan Tanwar and Manoj Kumar from Haryana, the latter apprehended following a vehicle chase near the Singhu border, with over 5 kg of Tramadol seized from his car. Police also conducted raids in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, arresting Parshant and Amit and recovering several kilograms of powdered psychotropic substances used in illegal drug manufacturing.

Authorities stated that the syndicate procured raw materials for manufacturing psychotropic medicines and supplied them to distributors and traffickers across multiple states. The operation has effectively dismantled a major supply chain that threatened public health and safety, while further investigations are ongoing to trace additional members and suppliers of the network.

Delhi Police emphasized that such coordinated intelligence-led operations are crucial to curb the growing menace of drug trafficking and ensure the strict enforcement of the NDPS Act. Officials warned that further raids may follow as the probe continues to identify the full extent of the syndicate.

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