A cavity was made to hide the opium in the car.

New Delhi: The Special Cell of Delhi Police has busted an inter-state drug cartel and arrested three persons, including the kingpin of a gang. Police recovered 40 kg of opium worth Rs 43 crore from their possession. The recovered opium was smuggled from the northeastern states and was to be supplied to Delhi and other adjoining states.

According to Special Cell DCP Alok Kumar, the Trans-Yamuna range of the Special Cell was working on information that an inter-state drug cartel was involved in the supply of opium from north-eastern states to Delhi NCR and other adjoining states. It was also found that suppliers from north eastern states buy raw materials from mountainous areas around Myanmar's international border.

On September 11, 2023, the team received specific information that two people, Amra Ram and Bhana Ram, both residents of Jodhpur, were coming to Delhi with a consignment of opium in a KIA Seltos car of Rajasthan number at the behest of Bhallaram. They will reach Mayur Vihar area to deliver opium to Bhallaram's associate. After this, both of them were caught by raiding. His car, which had no number plate at the rear, was checked. A cavity was found near the front tire of the KIA Seltos. A total of 40.865 kg of opium was recovered from the spot.

During the investigation, the police team along with the two arrested accused Amra Ram and Bhana Ram reached Jodhpur in search of the gang leader Bhallaram. It was found that Bhallaram was admitted to a hospital in Jodhpur, Rajasthan at 11:2023 pm on September 6, 40. After being discharged from the hospital, Bhallaram was arrested in this case and on his instructions, 15.2023 kg opium was recovered from his house in Jodhpur, Rajasthan on September 3, 058.

The arrested accused Bhallaram, Amra Ram and Bhana Ram were thoroughly interrogated. Amra Ram and Bhana Ram revealed that they are part of an inter-state drug syndicate run by Bhallaram. They were involved in drug trafficking for the last six months. They said they procured drugs from several people in Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Assam at the behest of Bhallaram and then supplied them to several people in Delhi-NCR, Punjab, Rajasthan and Chandigarh.

The accused revealed that Bhallaram used to talk to suppliers and customers through social media platforms. He used to give them Rs 30,<> to bring a consignment and promised to make them partners in the business after Diwali.

Bhallaram revealed that he has been involved in the drug trade for the last six years. He said that initially he used to work for his brother-in-law Jayaram. During this time, he came in contact with opium suppliers in Manipur, Nagaland and Assam and opium takers in Delhi-NCR, Punjab, Rajasthan and Chandigarh. When Jayaram was arrested in 2021, he started his own smuggling cartel. He bought two new Kia Seltos cars to smuggle opium and made special cavities inside the cars to dodge the security agencies, so that opium smuggling could be done easily.

Bhallaram used to buy opium at Rs 1,10,000 per kg and sell it at Rs 1,60,000 per kg.