New Delhi, July 25 (IANS) In a major crackdown on the illegal trade of psychotropic medicines, the North-East District Police have busted an interstate drug trafficking syndicate and seized over 19.70 lakh Tramadol and Alprazolam tablets and capsules weighing approximately 470.686 kg, along with a Tata Safari SUV.
Five accused have been arrested during the investigation, exposing a well-organised network involved in the procurement, storage and distribution of controlled pharmaceutical drugs across multiple states.
The breakthrough comes as a continuation of the investigation into FIR No. 279/2026 registered at Jyoti Nagar Police Station. Earlier, on June 20, 2026, police had arrested a father-son duo and recovered psychotropic medicines from their possession.
During the investigation, sustained interrogation of the arrested accused, Shivam Gupta and Virpal Gupta, led police to another key suspect, Nadeem (30), a resident of Rajiv Nagar, Mandoli, Delhi, who was allegedly operating from Bhagirath Palace in Chandni Chowk. Police recovered 24 Tramadol capsules, 16 Tramadol tablets and 30 Alprazolam tablets from his possession before arresting him.
During questioning, Nadeem disclosed the identity of his supplier. Acting on this information, a dedicated police team, assisted by technical surveillance and local Intelligence, conducted a raid in Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh. On July 3, police arrested Navneet (35), a resident of Nai Kot village under Mehnajpur Police Station in Azamgarh.
During his police custody remand, Navneet revealed that a large quantity of psychotropic medicines had been stored in a locked godown in Ambedkar City, Noida. Acting on his disclosure, police searched the premises and recovered 29 cartons containing a huge stock of medicines, along with 270 Tramadol capsules. However, the tenants of the godown were found absconding, and their mobile phones were switched off.
Further investigation revealed the involvement of another accused, Ashish, who was allegedly procuring Tramadol and Alprazolam from the Noida godown. He was apprehended at the instance of Navneet, while preliminary technical analysis confirmed digital communication between the two.
During further interrogation, Navneet disclosed that he had procured the psychotropic medicines from Ashish Sinha. Based on his statement, technical evidence and digital analysis, police traced and arrested Ashish Sinha (46), a resident of Ganesh Tower, Krishna Garden, Ghaziabad. A Maruti Baleno car was also recovered from his possession.
Continuing the investigation, the police team arrested the main wanted accused, Shiv Narayan Jha (45), on July 23 from Ambedkar City in Gautam Budh Nagar, Noida. During interrogation, Jha disclosed the involvement of his associate, Aman Sharma (34), a resident of Greater Noida West, who was subsequently arrested.
Police verification further revealed that Shiv Narayan Jha had already been declared a Proclaimed Offender in Case No. VIII/41/DZU/2025 registered by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
Based on the disclosures made by Shiv Narayan Jha, police conducted a search at a house in Ambedkar City near Parthala Gol Chakkar in Sector-122, Noida. The raid resulted in one of the biggest recoveries of psychotropic substances ever made by the North-East District Police.
The seizure included 11,66,400 Alprazolam 0.25 tablets (151.632 kg), 18,600 Alprazolam 0.5 tablets (1.860 kg), 1,31,400 Tramadol tablets (55.188 kg), 80,640 Tramadol capsules (49.996 kg), and 5,73,000 Tramadol capsules (212.010 kg). A Tata Safari SUV was also recovered during the operation.
In total, police seized 19,70,040 Tramadol and Alprazolam tablets and capsules weighing approximately 470.686 kg. Additionally, 340 Tramadol tablets and capsules, along with 16 Alprazolam tablets, had earlier been recovered from the possession of Nadeem and Navneet at the time of their arrests.
The five accused arrested during the subsequent investigation have been identified as Nadeem of Delhi, Navneet of Azamgarh, Ashish Sinha of Ghaziabad, Shiv Narayan Jha of Greater Noida Extension and Aman Sharma of Greater Noida West. Police said none of the accused had any previously recorded involvement, except Shiv Narayan Jha, who is a proclaimed offender in an NCB case.
According to police, the investigation has uncovered a highly organised interstate syndicate engaged in the illegal procurement, storage and distribution of psychotropic medicines across several states. The successive arrests and massive recoveries have dealt a significant blow to the illegal supply chain of controlled pharmaceutical drugs.
The recovered contraband has been seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Police said further investigation is underway to identify other members of the syndicate, trace the financial trail, determine the source of procurement and uncover the wider distribution network.
–IANS
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