Gujarat News: In a significant joint operation conducted by the Delhi and Gujarat Police, authorities recovered at least 518 kilograms of cocaine, valued at approximately Rs 5,000 crore, from Ankleshwar, Gujarat, on Sunday. Officials reported that this seizure is linked to a previous recovery of 700 kilograms of cocaine in Delhi, bringing the total amount of cocaine seized to 1,289 kilograms, along with 40 kilograms of hydroponic marijuana, collectively worth over Rs 13,000 crore.
A Delhi Police officer informed that investigations into the earlier cocaine seizure revealed the drugs were sourced from Avkar Drugs Limited Company in Ankleshwar. Following this lead, a team from the Special Cell was dispatched to Gujarat, where they recovered the cocaine from the company's godown and arrested five individuals on-site, news agency PTI reported.
With this operation, the number of arrests has increased to 12. According to PTI, sources indicate that this may be the largest drug seizure by any agency in India to date.
The police are currently interrogating the suspects regarding their alleged connections to an international drug syndicate operating from Dubai and the UK.
Earlier this month, on October 2, the Special Cell had seized over 560 kilograms of cocaine and 40 kilograms of hydroponic marijuana, estimated to be worth Rs 5,620 crore, from a godown in Mahipalpur, South Delhi, leading to the arrest of four individuals. Subsequently, two additional suspects were apprehended in Amritsar and Chennai.
In another operation on Thursday, authorities seized 208 kilograms of cocaine, valued at Rs 2,080 crore, from a rented shop in West Delhi. Following this, another arrest was made in Uttar Pradesh's Hapur, marking the seventh arrest in connection with the ongoing investigations.
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ED Launches Money Laundering Probe In Delhi Drugs Busts Case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a money laundering investigation related to a significant narcotics seizure in the national capital. On Friday, the agency announced that it had conducted searches in Delhi, Mumbai, and Gurugram as part of its probe.
This investigation follows a major operation on October 2, during which the Delhi Police Special Cell seized over 560 kilograms of cocaine and 40 kilograms of hydroponic marijuana from a godown in Mahipalpur, valued at approximately Rs 5,620 crore.
In a statement, the ED revealed that key financial documents have been recovered, detailing the financial activities of the accused and information regarding their movable and immovable assets, as well as those of their family members.
The agency has taken cognisance of the FIR filed against accused individuals Tushar Goel, Himanshu Kumar, Aurangzeb Siddiqui, and Bharat Kumar to initiate its investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Raids were carried out at the residences of various suspects, including Tushar Goel and his wife in Vasant Enclave and Rajouri Garden, both in Delhi. The premises of Himanshu Kumar in Prem Nagar, Delhi, and Bharat Kumar in Nalasopara, Mumbai, were also searched. Additionally, business locations linked to Tushar Books Publication Private Limited, Tulip Publications Private Limited in Jhandewalan, and ABN Buildtech Private Limited in Gurugram were raided, as these companies are owned and controlled by Goel and his family, PTI reported.
The ED claims that main accused Tushar Goel, also known as Dikki, had stored the narcotic consignment at a family-owned godown in Mahipalpur. The agency alleged that Goel travelled to Dubai and Thailand in June this year to meet associates and coordinate the movement and distribution of narcotics. He is believed to be collaborating with a Dubai-based mastermind previously linked to the supply of cocaine and other narcotic substances.