Executive Summary
- Authorities arrested over 50 individuals in a coordinated crackdown on an interstate drug cartel in India.
- The operation involved Telangana’s EAGLE force and the Delhi Crime Branch raiding 20 locations.
- Key arrests included alleged cartel leaders and financial operatives in Noida, Gwalior, and Visakhapatnam.
HYDERABAD — Authorities in India have arrested over 50 Nigerian nationals suspected of operating a sprawling drug cartel following a coordinated enforcement operation spanning multiple states. Telangana’s Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE), working in conjunction with the Delhi Crime Branch, executed the raids across Delhi and neighboring regions, according to official police statements.
The operation, described by officials as a high-stakes joint effort, mobilized 124 EAGLE officers—including a Superintendent of Police and eight Deputy Superintendents—alongside 100 personnel from the Delhi Crime Branch. Investigators targeted 20 specific locations in Delhi’s Mehrauli, Sant Garh, and Munirka areas. According to law enforcement reports, the sweeps resulted in a significant seizure of narcotics and the detention of individuals alleged to be overstaying their visas.
The scope of the investigation extended beyond the national capital. Police spokespersons indicated that key arrests were made in Noida, Gwalior, and Visakhapatnam, where local authorities collaborated with the EAGLE force. These follow-up operations reportedly led to the apprehension of a suspected kingpin and key operatives managing financial accounts for the network.
Interstate Enforcement Coordination
This large-scale crackdown highlights a significant escalation in interstate police cooperation within India, designed to dismantle complex narcotics networks that operate across jurisdictional boundaries. The mobilization of hundreds of officers from different states underscores the strategic shift toward resource-sharing to combat organized trafficking. As the investigation proceeds, authorities are expected to focus on analyzing the financial trails and supply chains disrupted by these arrests. It is important to note that all individuals arrested or charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
