Special Cell nabs three members of drug cartel, seizes five kg heroin

NEW DELHI: The Special Cell of Delhi Police on Wednesday said it busted a narcotics drug cartel with the arrest of three key members, in addition to recovering five kg of fine quality heroin worth more than Rs 20 crore in the international market.

Cops said the arrested accused have been identified as Shakeel (30), a resident of Shahjahanpur, Irshad (29), a resident of Badaun and Jitender Yadav (23), a resident of Jharkhand.

"This year, the Special Cell has so far recovered more than 58.5 kg of fine quality heroin, amounting to more than Rs 234 crores in the international market. Apart from this, other narcotic drugs, including 45 kg of opium and 602 kg of cannabis have also been recovered," said Sanjeev Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police Special cell.

On May 15, specific information was received that three key accused would come near BC colony, Kela Godam road in Shalimar Bagh, to supply a large consignment of the drug to one of their Delhi-based drug dealers.

Accordingly, a raiding party was constituted and a trap was laid at the spot. The trio of Shakeel, Irshad and Jitender Yadav came to the rendezvous point and waited for someone.

When no one turned up and they were about to move, the police team immediately swooped in and apprehended them.

The search of the accused led to the recovery of five kg of fine quality heroin.

Cops said that Shakeel revealed that he is a school drop-out and hails from a poor family. He reportedly was running a vegetable shop in his hometown and said that he was lured into the illegal trade of trafficking of narcotic drugs by one Pappu.

Shakeel worked for Pappu for about two-three years, during which he came into contact with Irshad. The two soon started getting supply of contraband directly from one Sharvan of Chatra in Jharkhand, in addition to heroin from Pappu.

Shakeel also disclosed that he and Irshad also visited Jharkhand and Manipur personally to meet with their suppliers and finalise the deal, in order to avoid interception.