Special Cell Arrests Smuggler in Chatra; Heroin Racket Busted
Delhi Police's Special Cell has arrested a man accused of running an unusual narcotics pipeline that stretched from the hills of Jharkhand to the streets of the national capital region.
The suspect, Prakash Kumar of Chatra, is accused of farming opium on government land in Jharkhand's hills and forests. Police say he deliberately avoided his own land so that his cultivation would not be easily traced.
According to investigators, Kumar carried the harvested opium to Lucknow, where he operated a processing unit that turned the raw material into heroin. The finished drug was then sent to Delhi and NCR, where it was allegedly sold through schools, colleges and hotels.
Statements that shocked officers
During questioning, Kumar made disclosures that stunned the police team. Acting on his statements and identification, officers said they had broken up a significant heroin trafficking network based in Jharkhand.
Layers of protection
The network reportedly used security checks at every step. Instead of moving goods in bulk, the group relied on small, interconnected groups for transport and handover, making it harder for authorities to link one stage to another.
Possible Naxal connection
Investigators have also found indications of links to Naxalites. There is a suspicion that a large share of the drug money was given to the group in return for shelter and food. Police are probing this angle further.
Earlier arrests
The trail began earlier with the arrest of Laxman Huddu, a resident of Begumpur, who was found with 300 grams of heroin and Rs 3 lakh. Police then arrested Rukhsar from UP, Ejaz Ahmad from Bareilly and Mohammad Azhar from Badaun. Their questioning connected the chain from Lucknow to Chatra.
Final recoveries
A raid in Chatra resulted in the recovery of 8.128 kilograms of heroin, Rs 12.81 lakh in cash, three SUVs and a Royal Enfield motorcycle. So far, seven people linked to the network have been taken into custody, and police say the investigation is ongoing.