Sikkim Man Nabbed as 20th Suspect in Delhi's Record Drug Seizure Case
Delhi Police has made another significant arrest in the high-profile Rs 13,000 crore drug seizure case. Officers from the Special Cell apprehended a 30-year-old man from Sikkim, marking the twentieth suspect taken into custody. This development follows closely on the heels of a major breakthrough weeks earlier, when authorities captured and extradited key drug supplier Ritik Bajaj from Dubai.
The Arrest and Connection to the Syndicate
Deputy Commissioner of Police Amit Kaushik confirmed the arrest of Tilak Prasad Sharma. Police detained Sharma in Sikkim before transporting him to Delhi for questioning. Investigators identified Sharma as a carrier who operated under Bajaj's direction. He allegedly brought multiple consignments of Thai marijuana from Thailand, concealing the drugs within his luggage during airport transits.
"Sharma specifically transported approximately 40 kilograms of Thai marijuana following Ritik Bajaj's instructions," stated DCP Kaushik. "Bajaj himself was arrested last month after deportation from the United Arab Emirates."
Background of the Massive Drug Haul
This case originated in October 2024 when Delhi Police's Special Cell executed the largest drug seizure operation in the capital's history. Authorities recovered a staggering 1,289 kilograms of cocaine alongside 39.706 kilograms of Thai marijuana during coordinated raids in Delhi and Gujarat.
The investigation revealed two distinct supply chains for cocaine and Thai marijuana. Both chains ultimately converged, supplying the same network of distributors across India. Police described an elaborate smuggling operation where drugs traveled from South America through Dubai before reaching Indian shores.
Key Seizures and Pharmaceutical Company Involvement
The syndicate's operations unraveled through three major seizures:
- On October 1, 2024, police confiscated 562 kg of cocaine and 39.70 kg of Thai marijuana from Mahipalpur in South Delhi. This raid led to the arrest of Tushar Goel, an alleged associate of Dubai-based businessman Virender Basoiya, along with three other individuals.
- On October 10, 2024, authorities seized 208 kg of cocaine from a shop in West Delhi's Ramesh Nagar area.
- On October 13, 2024, a joint operation between Delhi Police and Gujarat Police recovered 518 kg of cocaine valued at approximately Rs 5,000 crore in the international market. This seizure occurred at Aavkar Drugs in Ankleshwar, Gujarat, resulting in five arrests including three company directors.
Investigators discovered that multiple pharmaceutical companies, including five legitimate firms and three shell companies based in South India and Gujarat, facilitated the drug transportation. The contraband arrived at Aavkar Drugs in multiple consignments for refinement and processing.
"These drugs were then moved out of Gujarat disguised as medical shipments," explained an officer. "On paper, the consignments were handed over to Pharma Solutions Services before being transported as medicine packages to Delhi-NCR via road."
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Proceedings
Despite these arrests, several key figures remain at large. Virender Basoiya, the Dubai-based businessman allegedly financing the cartel's operations, continues to evade capture. Delhi Police has already filed an extensive chargesheet exceeding 10,000 pages in the Patiala House court, naming nineteen individuals connected to the syndicate.
Of those charged, seventeen have been arrested while five have been declared proclaimed offenders. The investigation continues as authorities work to dismantle the entire network responsible for this unprecedented drug smuggling operation.
