Delhi police dismantle meth lab linked to notorious Mexican cartel

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Just a week after a meth lab was shut down in Chennai—drawing comparisons to the iconic TV show "Breaking Bad"—a similar operation unfolded in the national capital region. Authorities conducted a raid on a production facility in the Kasana industrial area of Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, recovering 95 kg of drugs in both solid and liquid forms, along with chemicals such as acetone and red phosphorus. The narcotics were intended for sale both domestically and internationally, with connections to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) from Mexico. Originally an offshoot of the Milenio Cartel, one of Mexico's most feared drug organizations, the CJNG has been implicated in gruesome practices, including reports of cannibalizing new recruits who fail their training.

This joint drug operation had a significant presence across Delhi and the surrounding areas. Preliminary investigations suggest that a Delhi-based businessman and a warden from Tihar Jail were integral to this operation. The businessman, whose name has not yet been disclosed, was previously arrested by Revenue Department officials in a drug-related case. They connected while he was incarcerated at Tihar, where they devised this plan. To manufacture the drugs, they enlisted a chemist based in Mumbai, while the cartel took charge of quality control by sending a member to reside in Delhi. Both the businessman and the jail warden have been arrested, but it remains unclear whether the cartel member has also been detained. Additionally, a fourth, unidentified individual has been taken into custody.

A fifth arrest occurred later in Delhi's Rajouri Garden, involving an associate of the businessman. Authorities are currently working on detailing the operation's financial aspects and assets. The bust linked to the Delhi-Mexico drug operation marks the sixth such operation by the Narcotics Control Bureau this year. Previous raids occurred in Gandhinagar and Amreli in Gujarat, Jodhpur and Sirohi in Rajasthan, and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, where over 900 kg of mephedrone was seized, along with a staggering 7,000 kg of chemicals and drug manufacturing equipment. The Chennai operation, managed by a chemistry student who initially started dealing meth, yielded 245 grams, but authorities believe it may be tied to a larger network. Another raid in Assam last week saw the seizure of heroin worth ₹6 crore and the arrest of two individuals. Additionally, Gujarat Police confiscated drugs valued at ₹250 crore from a businessman in Bharuch district, following earlier raids on his company that revealed drugs worth ₹5,000 crore. The increasing frequency of drug busts, especially involving labs producing synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and mephedrone, underscores a trend where drug mafias are shifting to smaller labs in industrial areas to evade law enforcement. These smaller operations enable them to minimize waste and reduce toxic fumes.