Just days after a similar raid in Chennai, Delhi-NCR authorities uncovered a significant methamphetamine production site in the Kasana industrial area of Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. Law enforcement officials recovered 95 kg of meth in both solid and liquid forms, alongside precursor chemicals like acetone and red phosphorus. Investigations revealed connections to the Mexican Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), whose members were allegedly involved in drug manufacturing and quality control operations aimed at both domestic and international markets.
Involvement of Delhi-Based Businessman and Tihar Jail Warden
Preliminary reports indicate that a Delhi businessman and a Tihar Jail warden formed the basis of the operation after meeting during the businessman’s previous incarceration. They recruited a chemist from Mumbai to oversee production, while a CJNG member was reportedly sent to Delhi to handle quality control. Both the businessman and warden are now in police custody, along with an associate from Delhi’s Rajouri Garden. Details regarding assets and financial operations are under investigation, though the cartel member’s current status remains undisclosed.
The meth lab in Delhi marks the sixth major drug bust by the Narcotics Control Bureau this year, with similar raids conducted in Gandhinagar, Amreli, Jodhpur, Sirohi, and Bhopal. Authorities report a surge in smaller, industrial-area labs producing meth and mephedrone, allowing drug cartels to evade detection by minimizing toxic byproducts and reducing waste.
India’s Synthetic Drug Crisis: Growing Busts and Arrests
This latest seizure follows recent crackdowns across the country. In Bhopal, authorities seized over 900 kg of mephedrone and 7,000 kg of chemical precursors, while a recent raid in Assam uncovered heroin valued at ₹6 crore. Gujarat Police also reported a major operation in Bharuch, recovering drugs worth ₹250 crore, linked to a businessman previously implicated in seizures worth ₹5,000 crore.
