Major Drug Bust in Rajasthan: Police Seize Rs 25 Crore Meth, Arrest Two
In a significant crackdown on narcotics trafficking, Barmer Police in Rajasthan, in collaboration with the Anti-Terrorism Squads (ATS) of Rajasthan and Gujarat, has dismantled an international drug smuggling network operating on a sophisticated location-based model. This operation marks the first time that nearly 5 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, smuggled across the international border near Barmer, have been seized, leading to the arrest of two individuals involved in the illicit trade.
High-Value Seizure and Arrests
The arrested accused were intercepted while transporting the drug consignment to Gujarat for further distribution. The seized crystal methamphetamine is valued at approximately Rs 5 crore per kilogram in the international market, resulting in a total estimated worth of around Rs 25 crore. The contraband was discovered buried underground beneath a tree, merely 150 meters from the border, highlighting the covert nature of the smuggling operation.
International Links and Digital Payments
Investigations revealed that the local smuggler apprehended with the consignment was in direct contact with a Pakistan-based handler identified as Masad. Financial transactions were conducted through digital payments via Airtel Payments Bank, indicating the use of modern technology to facilitate the illegal activities. Examination of the accused's mobile phones uncovered WhatsApp chats with Pakistani numbers, including video clips related to the receipt of the narcotics, further substantiating the cross-border connections.
Coordinated Police Operation
The successful operation was executed under the direction of ADG ATS, AGTF, and ANTF, Dinesh MN, with supervision from IG Rajesh Singh and DIGs Yogesh Yadav and Ramamurthy Joshi. Led by ATS SP Gyan Chand Yadav and Barmer SP Choonaram Jat, the action was based on intelligence inputs received from ATS Gujarat. A special team comprising officers from ATS and AGTF was formed to carry out the mission, leveraging both technical and ground intelligence to track the suspects.
Key personnel involved included:
- Inspector Mool Singh Bhati (ATS Jodhpur)
- Inspector DD Raivar (ATS Gujarat)
- SHO Om Prakash of Barmer Sadar Police Station
Interception and Recovery Details
Acting swiftly on the intelligence, police teams set up a blockade at Lorti Height on NH-68 near Adarsh Undkha. During a naka checking, a suspicious Eeco vehicle (registration number GJ38BB4894) coming from Barmer was stopped and searched. Authorities recovered a total of 4.980 kilograms of illegal methamphetamine packed in five bags from the possession of the accused.
The arrested individuals have been identified as:
- Salman, son of Lalakhan
- Shankar Ram, son of Ramesh Ram Meghwal
Both are residents of Sajjan Ka Par in Ramsar. During interrogation, Salman confessed to receiving the consignment from Masad, a resident of Tharparkar district in Pakistan, near the international border.
Legal Actions and Ongoing Investigation
Police have seized the vehicle used in the smuggling operation along with the mobile phones as evidence. A case has been registered against both accused under various sections of the NDPS Act, and further investigation is actively underway. Currently, intelligence agencies, under the leadership of SP Choonaram Jat and ATS SP Gyan Chand Yadav, are jointly interrogating the accused to uncover more details.
Authorities suspect that several more individuals, including influential figures linked to the network, may be exposed as the investigation progresses. This bust underscores the critical role of inter-agency coordination in combating organized crime and highlights the ongoing efforts to secure borders against narcotics trafficking.
