Punjab Police have dealt a massive blow to an international drug trafficking ring, dismantling a sophisticated network that was flooding the Chandigarh Tricity and Ludhiana areas with high-end "party drugs." Six key operatives were arrested on Saturday in what has been described by Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav as one of the most significant seizures of MDMA and synthetic narcotics in the country’s recent history.
The suspects, identified as Rishav, Mukesh Kumar, Lakhwinder Singh, Ravi Kumar, Baljinder Singh, and Talwinder Singh, were allegedly targeting urban youth through high-end club circuits. The haul recovered by the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) was staggering: 1,215 MDMA tablets, 263g of cocaine, 82g of methamphetamine (known as 'ICE'), 1.2kg of various THC variants, and even 16g of "magic mushrooms." Officers also recovered ₹9 lakh in suspected drug money.
DGP Yadav revealed that the syndicate was using a modern playbook to stay under the radar, sourcing the contraband from overseas via air courier channels and coordinating their sales through encrypted social media apps.
The breakthrough came after ANTF AIG Ashwini Gotyal acted on a tip-off regarding a supplier named Rishav, who was reportedly operating out of an apartment in Kharar. A swift raid on his premises uncovered the bulk of the MDMA and cocaine, along with a stash of opium and cash. This arrest was like the domino effect, which led to the arrest of the remaining five members of the cell from a larger redistribution center in Ludhiana.
AIG Gotyal stated that the substances seized were rated as extremely dangerous on a global scale, especially from a psychological point of view. "Several of these drugs have been the subject of international health warnings due to their potency," she stated.
The group now faces a slew of charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, with an FIR registered at the ANTF station in SAS Nagar. While the local cell has been lopped off, the police are now turning their attention to the international couriers involved in the supply chain.
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