new delhi: The Special Cell of the Delhi Police has arrested a key accused from Sikkim in connection with a massive Rs 13,000 crore international narcotics smuggling case linked to the seizure of a massive consignment of cocaine, mephedrone and Thai marijuana, an official said on Monday.
The accused, Tilak Prasad Sharma (35), a resident of East Pendam in Sikkim, was apprehended after a sustained inter-state operation following the execution of a non-bailable warrant issued against him by a Delhi court, police said.
Sharma was wanted in an FIR registered at a Special Cell police station in 2024 under various provisions of the NDPS Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Police said the case pertains to the recovery of 1,290 kg of cocaine and mephedrone and 40 kg of Thai marijuana, exposing the operations of an international drug cartel with links spanning Pakistan, the UK, Malaysia, Thailand, the UAE and India.
“So far, 17 accused have been arrested in the case, while several others, including foreign-based handlers, are still absconding,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Amit Kaushik said in a statement.
Police said Sharma played a crucial role as a courier in the syndicate. During the investigation, it emerged that he was actively involved in smuggling suitcases containing Thai marijuana from Thailand to India on multiple occasions.
After landing in Delhi, the contraband was allegedly handed over to Himanshu, an associate of another accused, Tushar Goyal. Two suitcases containing Thai marijuana were later recovered from a godown in Mahipalpur linked to Goyal, he said.
According to the police, further revealed that following the arrest of key cartel members in Delhi in the first week of October 2024, the syndicate’s kingpin instructed Sharma to alter his travel route to evade law enforcement agencies. He was directed to travel from Thailand to Sri Lanka, then to Nepal and thereafter to India.
During this period, Sharma was apprehended by Nepal Customs at an airport with Thai marijuana and was lodged in a jail in Kathmandu. However, police said local inquiries revealed that he escaped from the Nepal jail during a phase of unrest and subsequently returned to India.
Sharma, traced with local police help in Sikkim, was arrested and produced in court, while efforts continue to track other cartel members abroad.