Delhi Police busts drug racket operating from Afghanistan

The main accused, identified as Pankaj Vaid alias Sanju Baba, was also wanted in UAPA of Jammu and Narcotics cases of Amritsar, said KPS Malhotra, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Anti-Narcotics Task Force unit of Crime Branch.

During the investigation, it was uncovered that the main link of the cartel that was supplying the Heroin in Punjab was Pankaj Vaid. He was the single point contact for allegedly supplying heroin in the whole of Punjab after procuring the same from Afghanistan through Delhi counterparts, said Malhotra.

After the arrest of his associates, he went underground and started changing his hideouts very frequently.

Simultaneously raids were conducted in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh. Acting on specific input, Vaid was arrested from Himachal Pradesh.

During interrogation, it was revealed that Vaid is a habitual offender and during his Amritsar jail tenure (in a theft and arms act case), he came in touch with drug peddlers connected to Afghanistan, and after coming out from jail, he started working with them.

He is also wanted in a UAPA case in Jammu. He was the nodal point for all local drug suppliers who were engaged in Heroin trafficking in Punjab, he added.

Further identification of the local drug traffickers is underway.

During interrogation six properties situated in different parts of the country have been identified related to Vaid, which have been acquired through the proceeds of his illegal drug business.

It also came to notice that the accused was holding a huge consignment but destroyed it out of fear when his counterparts were arrested by ANTF earlier.