Less than a week after a meth lab bust in Chennai, police in Delhi’s national capital region have uncovered a large methamphetamine production center linked to a Mexican drug cartel. Raids conducted in the Kasana industrial area of Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddha Nagar led to the seizure of 95 kilograms of meth in both solid and liquid forms, along with precursor chemicals such as acetone and red phosphorous, used for drug synthesis. The drugs, reportedly manufactured for domestic and international markets, were allegedly orchestrated by members of the Mexican Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the world’s most feared drug trafficking organizations.
The CJNG, an offshoot of Mexico’s infamous Milenio Cartel, has a notorious reputation for extreme measures, reportedly including cannibalizing recruits who fail training, according to a report by Mexico News Daily. The latest bust marks CJNG’s entry into the Indian drug trade, highlighting the increasing global reach of the cartel, which has traditionally operated across North and South America.
A Complex Web of Connections
Preliminary police investigations suggest that the drug operation was orchestrated by a Delhi-based businessman and, shockingly, a warden from Tihar Jail. Police reports indicate that the businessman, previously incarcerated for drug-related offenses, met the warden while serving time in Tihar, where they allegedly devised the operation. Their plan involved recruiting a chemist based in Mumbai to oversee meth production, while quality control was outsourced to the cartel, with a CJNG member reportedly sent to Delhi to assist.
The Delhi businessman, the jail warden, the chemist, and an unidentified fourth person are currently in police custody. A fifth arrest, involving an associate of the businessman, took place in Delhi’s Rajouri Garden. Police are still working to identify other participants and trace financial transactions and assets connected to the drug ring.
India’s Escalating Meth and Synthetic Drug Crisis
This Delhi-NCR drug bust is the latest in a series of large-scale operations by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) this year, underscoring India’s growing methamphetamine and synthetic drug crisis. NCB raids earlier this year targeted multiple locations, including Gujarat’s Gandhinagar and Amreli, Rajasthan’s Jodhpur and Sirohi, and Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal, where officials confiscated over 900 kg of mephedrone and 7,000 kg of chemicals used in drug manufacturing.
The Chennai meth lab, reportedly run by a chemistry student who initially started small-scale drug distribution, was another example of meth labs evolving from so-called “start-ups” to larger operations with potential cartel ties. Although only 245 grams were seized in Chennai, authorities believe the operation was part of a larger network with possible connections across India.
Meanwhile, police in Assam recently conducted a joint operation with their counterparts in Manipur, seizing heroin worth ₹6 crore and arresting two suspects. Separately, Gujarat police seized drugs valued at ₹250 crore in Bharuch district, a bust connected to previous raids that uncovered drugs worth ₹5,000 crore.
A Growing Challenge for Indian Law Enforcement
With six major drug busts by the NCB so far this year, Indian law enforcement agencies face an increasing challenge as international cartels establish footholds in the country. These high-profile seizures reflect the scale of the synthetic drug crisis and the adaptability of criminal networks like CJNG, which has now extended its reach to India.
Authorities continue to investigate the Delhi-based operation and its broader connections within India and internationally. With new cartel involvement and rising synthetic drug production, the battle against narcotics trafficking in India is becoming increasingly complex, necessitating stronger collaboration between domestic law enforcement and international drug control agencies.
Sources By Agencies
