In a significant crackdown on organized drug trafficking, Tiruvallur police have successfully dismantled a sophisticated inter-state synthetic drug cartel, resulting in 16 arrests and the seizure of substantial narcotics worth lakhs of rupees.
Major Drug Haul and Arrests
The latest police operation led to the apprehension of two key couriers identified as Mohammad Arfath, 22, and Mohammad Abdullah Asha, 28, bringing the total number of arrests in this case to sixteen. The drug seizure included 346 grams of methamphetamine, 40 MDMA tablets, and 500 grams of ganja.
What makes this cartel particularly noteworthy is its international connections. Among those arrested are foreign nationals from Senegal, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, alongside local handlers and recently released prisoners who had integrated themselves into the drug distribution network.
Sophisticated Operation Exposed
The month-long investigation, conducted under the directives of Inspector-General of Police (North zone) Asra Garg and Tiruvallur Superintendent of Police Vivekananda Shukla, revealed one of the most sophisticated synthetic drug distribution chains operating across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and the North-Eastern States.
Investigators uncovered that the recently arrested couriers maintained direct connections with the cartel's foreign-based handlers and were primarily responsible for transporting methamphetamine and MDMA along the crucial Bengaluru-Chennai corridor. To avoid detection, they utilized private buses and cash couriers for their operations.
Advanced Evasion Techniques
The drug network employed remarkably sophisticated methods to conceal their activities. Officials revealed that the organization relied heavily on layered financial transactions routed through bank accounts in West Bengal, Nagaland, and Mizoram.
These accounts were strategically used to mask drug payments before the cartel implemented an innovative 'no-contact delivery model.' After payment confirmation, the traffickers would dispatch isolated GPS coordinates to buyers, who would then collect pre-hidden contraband without ever meeting the suppliers directly. This system allowed traffickers to operate anonymously while significantly scaling their distribution capabilities.
Perhaps most alarming was the discovery that parts of the drug operation were being coordinated from inside Puzhal prison, where foreign nationals arrested in earlier cases had established contact with local inmates. Several of these inmates, upon their release, transitioned into becoming carriers and distributors for the cartel.
The investigation continues as authorities work to identify digital handlers, bank account operators, and additional foreign nationals believed to be part of the cartel's extended network. This case highlights the evolving nature of drug trafficking in India and the sophisticated methods employed by international drug syndicates.
