In one of the largest drug seizures ever recorded in the national capital, a joint operation by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Delhi Police has uncovered 329 kg of methamphetamine worth ₹262 crore. The crackdown, codenamed Operation Crystal Fortress, targeted a transnational drug syndicate that had been using Delhi as a major distribution hub for synthetic narcotics.
The massive consignment was recovered on 20 November from a residence in Chattarpur, South Delhi. Authorities arrested two suspects—Shane Waris from Uttar Pradesh and Esther Kinimi from Nagaland—following sustained technical surveillance and coordinated intelligence inputs. Investigations revealed that the cartel operated through layered handlers, fake SIM cards, encrypted communication platforms and rented safe houses to avoid detection.
Officials believe the network is linked to a foreign-based kingpin also implicated in a major 83-kg cocaine seizure last year. The discovery highlights Delhi’s evolving role as a transit point in international drug trafficking. The Union Home Minister has praised the operation as a demonstration of strong inter-agency coordination. With financial trails and logistical routes under active investigation, authorities aim to dismantle the cartel’s wider network and disrupt the flow of synthetic drugs across India.
