Massive ₹13,000 Crore Drug Bust Uncovers Gujarat Pharma Company’s Role in Cocaine Smuggling Network
In a significant development, the Delhi and Gujarat police have made one of the largest drug seizures in recent memory, uncovering a widespread cocaine smuggling operation centered around a Gujarat-based pharmaceutical company. The drug bust, which involves over 1,289 kilograms of high-quality cocaine valued at ₹13,000 crore, has sent shockwaves through the country and raised serious concerns about the involvement of legitimate businesses in illicit drug operations.
The Seizure
On Sunday, the Delhi Police, in coordination with their counterparts in Gujarat, raided a pharmaceutical company located in Ankleshwar, Gujarat, seizing 518 kilograms of premium-quality cocaine. The estimated street value of this single haul is ₹5,000 crore, making it one of the largest individual seizures of cocaine in India. This comes on the heels of another major bust in Mahipalpur, Delhi, where 562 kilograms of cocaine and 40 kilograms of hydroponic marijuana were confiscated from a warehouse earlier in the month.
Over the past three months, authorities have been actively pursuing leads based on intelligence inputs, culminating in the seizure of over 1,289 kilograms of cocaine. Investigators believe the drugs were smuggled into the country ahead of the festive season and a series of high-profile concerts, which may have served as potential distribution opportunities.
The Role of the Gujarat Pharmaceutical Company
At the heart of the investigation is a Gujarat-based pharmaceutical company, Pharma Solution Services, which has now come under the scanner for its role in refining the cocaine. According to sources in the Delhi Police, the raw contraband, smuggled into India from abroad, was allegedly processed and refined at the company’s facility. This raises troubling questions about the company’s operations and its potential involvement in a drug trafficking network.
The company, established in 2016 and classified as a non-government entity, is registered with the Registrar of Companies (ROC) in Ahmedabad. It boasts an authorized share capital of ₹2.5 crore and a paid-up capital of ₹2.02 crore. Officially, the company is involved in the manufacture of chemical products, but investigators have uncovered its dark underbelly as a hub for drug refining and distribution.
The company’s directors, identified as Ashwin Keshubhai Ramani, Brijesh Kothia, and Vijay Keshavlal Bhesania, are currently under investigation. Law enforcement agencies are probing their roles in the illegal operations and questioning the company’s staff and owners to uncover the extent of their involvement in the cocaine smuggling network.
Arrests and Key Players
As part of the investigation, 12 individuals have been arrested so far, including Tushar Goyal, a businessman from South Delhi, who is suspected of being a key figure in the operation. Goyal’s role in the storage and transportation of the drugs has come under scrutiny, and his connections to international associates, including a London-based man named Jatinder Pal Singh Gill, have also been revealed. Goyal and Gill, along with two other accomplices, were reportedly responsible for aiding the transportation of the contraband.
The drugs were allegedly smuggled into India via Goa before being refined in the pharmaceutical company’s Ankleshwar factory. From there, the refined cocaine was transported in large consignments to Uttar Pradesh and subsequently to Delhi. Goyal and his associates were tasked with storing the drugs and facilitating their sale to potential buyers across multiple states, including Odisha, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
The Investigation So Far
Authorities have conducted multiple raids as part of the ongoing investigation. One of the most significant raids took place on October 1, when the Special Cell of the Delhi Police raided Goyal’s warehouse in Mahipalpur, Delhi. The raid uncovered a staggering 562 kilograms of cocaine, along with 40 kilograms of hydroponic marijuana. The discovery of such a large quantity of drugs shocked investigators and led to further probes into Goyal’s network.
Another key development in the case came on October 10, when investigators seized an additional 208 kilograms of cocaine from a shop in Ramesh Nagar, Delhi. All of these drug hauls have been linked to Pharma Solution Services, deepening suspicions about the company’s operations and its role in the smuggling network.
The drugs are believed to have originated from South America, a known hotspot for cocaine production. Reports indicate that the contraband was shipped via Panama to Dubai, where a Dubai-based handler, working in tandem with a local conspirator, facilitated its entry into India. Once the drugs arrived on Indian shores in mid-September, they were transported by land to cities such as Ghaziabad and Delhi.
A Widespread Network
Investigators have uncovered a complex and far-reaching network involving multiple players across different states and even international borders. According to sources, Goyal had been in contact with the Dubai-based handler for nearly two decades. The two had met in Tihar Jail, where they were introduced through a mutual acquaintance. This long-standing connection has now come to the forefront as authorities unravel the full extent of their partnership.
The drugs were hidden in a warehouse typically used to store books, as Goyal’s family owns two publishing houses. This elaborate cover allowed the operation to remain hidden for a significant amount of time until law enforcement agencies, acting on intelligence inputs, cracked down on the operation.
The Road Ahead
The massive ₹13,000 crore drug bust has raised alarming questions about the intersection of legitimate businesses and illegal activities. The involvement of a Gujarat-based pharmaceutical company in such a large-scale smuggling operation is a cause for concern and highlights the need for stricter oversight and regulation within the industry.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are expected to make further arrests and uncover additional layers of the network. With over 1,200 kilograms of cocaine already seized, the operation marks one of the largest drug busts in India’s history.
The case also serves as a reminder of the pervasive nature of drug trafficking and the lengths to which smugglers will go to evade detection. The involvement of international players, sophisticated networks, and legitimate businesses only adds to the complexity of the investigation. For now, all eyes remain on the authorities as they continue to pursue justice and dismantle this far-reaching drug cartel.