Delhi Police Apprehends Fugitive Drug Queen Kusum After Extensive Manhunt
In a significant breakthrough, Delhi Police have arrested 54-year-old Kusum, the alleged mastermind behind a sprawling narcotics network operating across Delhi-NCR, after she remained on the run for nearly a year. A resident of Sultanpuri in northwest Delhi, Kusum is a proclaimed offender and a key accused under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). She was declared an absconder in August last year, with authorities announcing a reward of Rs 50,000 for information leading to her capture.
Intensive Investigation Leads to Arrest
DCP (Shahdara) Rajendra Prasad Meena detailed the meticulous efforts that culminated in Kusum's arrest. A dedicated police team analyzed over 200 CCTV footage clips and examined more than 100 mobile phone records to track her movements. "Multiple raids were conducted across three states," Meena stated. "Based on specific intelligence received on April 9, a trap was laid near Anand Vihar. When an informer identified her at the spot, she attempted to flee but was overpowered and arrested." To evade detection, Kusum deliberately avoided using smartphones and frequently changed basic mobile phones, SIM cards, and locations, effectively keeping herself off the grid.
Sophisticated Operation and Elaborate Setup
The scale and sophistication of Kusum's operation were first reported last year following a raid at her Sultanpuri residence in March. Externally, the premises appeared as four separate modest homes, but internally, walls had been demolished to create a single, interconnected structure resembling one massive house. Every door and window was reinforced with heavy steel bars, described by officers as "almost jail-like architecture." The setup included mechanized doors and 17 CCTV cameras monitored round the clock. Juvenile lookouts were allegedly stationed at entry and exit points of the lane to alert occupants at the first sign of police movement.
Innovative Drug Delivery Methods
Investigators revealed that drugs were never handed over directly. Instead, packets of heroin were lowered from balconies in baskets tied to ropes for waiting peddlers below or slipped through narrow slits carved into grilled windows. "The delivery method was similar to how residents on upper floors exchange tiffins or groceries using ropes, except that heroin packets or tablets were being passed down," explained a senior police officer. During the March raid by the Outer district police team, Kusum managed to escape, though her son, who allegedly handled day-to-day operations, was arrested.
Financial Trail and Asset Seizure
Police seized assets worth approximately Rs 4 crore, including eight properties allegedly acquired using proceeds from drug trafficking. The financial investigation led to her two daughters, Anuradha alias Cheeku and Deepa, who allegedly deposited nearly Rs 2 crore through dozens of small-value transactions across multiple bank accounts over 18 months, including Rs 70 lakh in just six months. MCOCA was subsequently invoked against both sisters. "Her brother Hariom and an associate, Ravi, were also allegedly part of the network," added another senior officer.
Extensive Criminal History
Kusum's criminal history spans over two decades, with 11 FIRs registered against her under the NDPS Act at multiple police stations, including Crime Branch, Chhawla, Bawana, and Narcotics Cell, dating back to 2003. This arrest marks a critical step in dismantling a long-standing narcotics operation that has plagued the region.
