Mumbai Police dismantle international drug ring

EXCLUSIVE » He had to shut his tea stall on the Nepal-Bihar border during COVID; in the years since he has become a key supplier of marijuana to Mumbai with a bunch of down-on-their-luck misfits

It was the arrest of a drug seller in Mumbai last month by the MHB police that led to the arrest of Asgar Ali, a man who went from tea seller to one of the key drug suppliers in the country. The MHB Colony police had arrested Deepak Singh, 29, with 500 gm of charas near the Metro station, Ganpat Patil Nagar. Asgar Ali, who is from Bihar, had successfully raised a drug ring by roping in men who were desperate to get rich quickly.

In doing so, the MHB police station has successfully dismantled an international drug trafficking operation, apprehending two Indians who were allegedly involved in the distribution of narcotics, primarily charas, in Mumbai. These illicit substances were being transported from Nepal through Bihar.

The MHB police arrested Asgar Ali Amil Hussain, 43, from Bihar on November 2, who allegedly was running a drug ring by procuring contraband from Nepal. Asgar Ali claimed that he is now a small-time clothes seller and resided with his parents, wife and children in Siwan district. He used to run a tea stall in Sugoli, a location on the Indo-Nepal border.

Deepak Singh, 29 Who was arrested last month by the MHB Colony police with 500 grams of charas that was supplied by Asgar Ali

“The drug traffickers from Nepal would meet with agents from India at Asgar Ali’s tea stall. This is where he came in contact with the drug sellers as well as the buyers. Due to the closure of tea shops during the lockdown, Asgar Ali also decided to become a drug supplier,” said an officer.  Police suspect that the clothes business was not doing so well and it is likely to be a cover for trafficking drugs.

It was the arrest of a drug seller in Mumbai last month by the MHB police which led to the arrest of Asgar Ali. The MHB police had arrested Deepak Singh, 29, with 500 grams of charas near the Ganpat Patil Nagar metro station. “Singh is a plumber by profession and a native of the Mirzapur district in Uttar Pradesh, now residing in Behramnala, Jogeshwari, with his auto-driver father. He was supplying security guards to various corporate firms,” said a police officer. Singh disclosed that he had purchased the charas from Asgar Ali, said an officer.

“Under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner of Police Ajaykumar Bansal and with the efforts of senior police inspector Sudhir Kudalkar, assistant police inspector Rahul Siddhe and police sub-inspector Akhilesh Bombe, the accused was tracked down in Bihar and apprehended. He was subsequently brought to Mumbai on transit remand,” said a police officer.

The arrested duo with the MHB police

Efforts are underway to interrogate Asgar Ali to obtain crucial information regarding the primary supplier responsible for bringing charas from Nepal to India, the officer said. The two accused have been produced in the court and remanded to police custody, said senior police inspector Sudhir Kudalkar.

500 GM
Quantity of charas seized

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!