In a significant breakthrough, law enforcement authorities in India have uncovered one of the largest drug busts in recent times, following an intensive investigation that spanned across multiple states. A joint operation between the Delhi Police Special Cell and Gujarat police led to the seizure of a staggering 518 kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value of ₹5,000 crore, during a raid at a pharmaceutical company in Gujarat. The bust has not only exposed a widespread drug trafficking network but has also brought to light the involvement of prominent businesses in illicit activities.
The raid in Gujarat is the latest in a series of major drug seizures in the past few months. Earlier this month, the Delhi Police Special Cell had intercepted another large consignment of drugs from a godown in Mahipalpur, South Delhi. That operation resulted in the confiscation of 562 kilograms of high-grade cocaine and 40 kilograms of hydroponic marijuana, indicating a well-organized drug smuggling operation that spans both domestic and international networks. According to sources within the Special Cell, authorities have seized a total of 1,289 kilograms of cocaine worth approximately ₹13,000 crore over the last three months.
Investigators believe that these massive drug shipments were smuggled into India in anticipation of the upcoming festive season and a series of large-scale concerts, where demand for such substances typically spikes. The involvement of a Gujarat-based pharmaceutical company has raised serious concerns, as the company is alleged to have been involved in refining the raw contraband that was smuggled into the country. The role of pharmaceutical firms in drug trafficking networks is rare but not unheard of, and this case has shocked many in the industry.
The Cocaine Cartel
According to officials, 12 individuals have been arrested in connection with the case so far, including Tushar Goyal, a well-known businessman from South Delhi. Goyal, along with his associates, is believed to have played a key role in the storage and distribution of the drugs. Among those arrested are two of Goyal’s London-based associates, Jatinder Pal Singh Gill, and two others who allegedly aided in the transportation of the narcotics. Goyal’s business operations in Delhi, particularly in Mahipalpur, appear to have been central to the drug smuggling network’s activities in the capital.
As per sources, the drugs were initially received in Goa, a known hotspot for drug trafficking in India, and were then transported to a facility in Ankleshwar, Gujarat, where they were refined before being sent to other parts of the country. The Gujarat-based company in question, Pharma Solution Services, has now become the focus of the investigation. Reports suggest that the company had established a fake subsidiary to cover up its illegal activities, further complicating the investigation.
The company, according to its official records, is registered as a non-government entity and has been operational since 2016. With an authorized share capital of ₹2.5 crore and a paid-up capital of ₹2.02 crore, it is primarily involved in the manufacture of chemical products. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) reveals that the company last filed its financial statements in March 2023, although key details such as the date of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) are currently unavailable. The company’s directors, Ashwin Keshubhai Ramani, Brijesh Kothia, and Vijay Keshavlal Bhesania, are now under intense scrutiny as investigators work to unravel the full extent of their involvement.
Further investigation has revealed that the drugs were cultivated in South America, a region infamous for its narcotic production, and were smuggled into India through a complex international route. The consignment was reportedly shipped from a port in Panama and made its way to Dubai before being smuggled into Goa. Investigators believe the drugs were then transported by road to Uttar Pradesh and subsequently to Delhi, where Goyal and his associates took control of the consignment.
Authorities have traced part of the drug route to a warehouse in Mahipalpur, which was raided by the Special Cell on October 1st. The raid uncovered 562 kilograms of cocaine and 40 kilograms of hydroponic marijuana stored in the warehouse, which was reportedly owned by Goyal. A follow-up operation on October 10th led to the discovery of an additional 208 kilograms of cocaine from a shop in Ramesh Nagar, Delhi, further strengthening the case against the accused.
The sophisticated network behind this smuggling operation also points to the involvement of international drug syndicates. Sources close to the investigation have indicated that a Dubai-based handler was instrumental in orchestrating the shipments and coordinating with Goyal and others to ensure smooth transportation and distribution within India. It is suspected that this handler, who has known Goyal for nearly two decades, instructed two key suspects to scout the drug routes before the consignment was shipped as cargo. The Dubai connection has added an international dimension to the case, with investigators now looking into potential links between the smuggling network and other organized crime syndicates operating out of the Middle East.
Goyal’s background has also come under scrutiny. Investigators revealed that he had met the Dubai-based handler nearly 20 years ago through a common acquaintance while serving time in Tihar Jail, further indicating a long-standing association between the two. Goyal’s family, which owns two publishing houses, used the warehouse in Mahipalpur, typically reserved for storing books, as a front for storing the illegal narcotics.
As the investigation continues, authorities are widening the scope of their probe, focusing on identifying other individuals and businesses that may have been complicit in the smuggling and distribution network. The case has already sent shockwaves across the pharmaceutical industry, with many questioning how a seemingly legitimate business could become involved in such a large-scale drug trafficking operation.
With arrests continuing to mount and new evidence emerging, this case is expected to uncover more details about the extent of drug smuggling operations within India, as well as the complicity of prominent businesses in illegal activities. The Gujarat-based pharmaceutical company at the heart of the investigation now faces the possibility of severe legal repercussions, and authorities are likely to tighten regulations around such companies to prevent similar occurrences in the future. For now, the seizure of such a massive quantity of drugs has been hailed as a significant victory in the ongoing battle against narcotics in India.