Police have uncovered the largest drug haul in Delhi’s history, valued at ₹5,820 crore (approximately $687 million), during an operation in the Mahipalpur Extension area on Wednesday. The Delhi police’s special cell seized 602 kg of Grade-A Colombian cocaine on October 2, arresting four key cartel members, including one individual based in India.
The haul consisted of 562 kg of cocaine, estimated to be worth ₹5,620 crore (around $667 million) in the international market, along with 40 kg of hydroponic marijuana valued at ₹200 crore.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Tushar Goyal, 40, Himanshu Kumar, 27, Aurangzeb Siddiqui, 23, and Bharat Kumar Jain, 48. A senior officer from the Special Cell, which investigated the case for two months, stated they are looking into all angles, including potential links to “narco-terrorism.”
The cocaine was stockpiled in a godown in Mahipalpur and was intended for distribution at several major concerts and music festivals scheduled in Delhi, Mumbai, and Goa from October 2024 to March 2025. Police sources indicated that the cocaine was transported to Delhi by road from various states, while the marijuana was brought in via air from Phuket, Thailand. The suspects were reportedly using cryptocurrency to evade detection by law enforcement.
The cartel targeted college students, working professionals, and affluent businessmen in Delhi and Mumbai. The kingpin of the operation has been traced to Dubai, and efforts are underway to apprehend him and extradite him to India.
The Special Cell’s investigation began when a senior officer received a tip-off from a central agency in August regarding Tushar Goyal, who was allegedly storing drugs at his godown. Following this lead, a team of 40 officers, led by Additional CP (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwaha, conducted surveillance for over three months to identify and track gang members.
“We monitored his movements and interactions closely. After nearly two months of diligent surveillance, we determined we had enough information, leading to the decision to execute the raid on October 1,” explained the officer.
During the operation, the Special Cell apprehended Goyal and Jain, who had traveled from Mumbai to purchase 15 kg of cocaine. The police discovered the drugs concealed in plastic packets on the top floor of the three-storey godown, which was being used by Goyal’s father for his publishing business.