Over 8000 tablets of banned pharma drugs seized in Delhi, 1 arrested
A team of Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of Delhi Police in South West District has seized 83,090 tablets of banned pharma drugs (Alprazolam and Zolpidem), from the Mehram Nagar area of Delhi Cantt. Alongside this, the officials also seized 26,000 packets of prohibited foreign cigarettes.
One drug peddler was also arrested in this connection, police said.
The operation followed credible intelligence inputs indicating the involvement of certain international cargo courier service operators in supplying these medicines and imported cigarettes. The contraband was being stockpiled in few godowns set up in the area, ANI reported.
The ANTF team of Delhi police led further investigation and identified the suspect's location in Mehram Nagar. The team laid trap near the identified premises and arrested the accessed identified as Sanjay Kumar Pandey, the statement said.
During the search of the premises, a large number of cartons containing prohibited narcotic medicine tablets and imported cigarettes were recovered from the premises. Upon checking all the boxes, a huge quantity of contraband was found, including: 83,090 tablets (1MG each tablet) of banned pharmaceutical drugs (Alprazolam & Zolpidem) and 26,000 packets of prohibited foreign cigarettes, which did not bear the mandatory health warning or MRP as required under the COTPA Act.
The accused admitted that they do not have a License or medical prescriptions for the sale, import, export or storage of the said items in Delhi and NCR, the statement said.
The accused revealed that his brother, Pramod Pandey, helped him establish a business of international cargo and courier services at Mehram Nagar. Currently, Pramod Pandey has set up his business in Dubai and is absconding in other NDPS-related cases. Sanjay used to supply these prohibited medicines at high rates. In 2011, he was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau, Delhi, with a large quantity of prohibited medicines and was sent to jail. After getting bail, he shifted to Mumbai, where he was again apprehended by the Narcotics team with drugs and was sent to jail, the statement read.
The case is a significant bust of a foreign-linked narcotics supply chain and disrupted mid-level operations in the capital. Further investigation regarding the source and supply chain of drug supplier (Narcotics Substance) and prohibited foreign cigarettes is under progress.
