Kingpin of ₹50cr drug smuggling racket arrested

In a significant development in a drug smuggling case involving 31.5 kg of Mephedrone (MD) worth Rs 50 crore, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested Sufiyan Yakub Khan, 36, who is alleged to be the mastermind behind the operation. Khan had been evading capture since the smuggling ring was exposed last month in Sewree.

The case came to light on June 26 when NCB officials, acting on specific intelligence, apprehended Musharaf Jan Mohammed Kapadia in Nagpada and seized 10 kg of MD from him. Interrogation of Kapadia led the agency to raid the residence of Nausheen Khan in Do Taki, central Mumbai, where they discovered an additional 10 kg of MD along with Rs 69.13 lakh in cash.

Further investigation implicated Mohammed Saif Khan, a resident of Sewree. The NCB recovered 11 kg of MD from Saif Khan and seized a scooter allegedly used for drug peddling. During Saif Khan’s questioning, it was disclosed that Sufiyan Khan supplied the MD. The NCB then set a trap and captured Sufiyan Khan, subsequently charging him under the NDPS Act for his involvement in the drug smuggling network.

According to the police, the recovered narcotics were intended for distribution throughout the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The syndicate had been active in drug trafficking for an extended period. The three suspects are being interrogated for more information, and the investigation is ongoing. Police noted that Sufiyan Khan comes from a respectable family and appears to be well-educated.

In related news, Haryana police busted a drug racket, seizing 900 kg of narcotics worth over Rs 30 lakh in Jind district, arresting two individuals from Punjab. The Madras High Court flagged a concerning alliance between police and advocates in narcotic drug cases, urging its dismantling to maintain legal integrity. Additionally, Shimla Police arrested a major drug peddler in Theog, leading to the recovery of 1.5 kg of opium.