A big revelation has come to light in the case of drugs worth around Rs 2,000 crore seized in Porbandar, Gujarat, on Saturday. Investigating agencies suspect that these drugs were sent to India at the behest of Pakistani intelligence agency ISI. Haji Salim, an international drug mafia based in Pakistan, is suspected of being behind this shipment. Haji Salim works for underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and the ISI and is also known as the “Drug Lord”.
India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has launched a major operation under ‘Operation Sagar Manthan’ to eliminate the drug cartel activities of wanted smuggler Haji Salim. According to officials, this operation was launched on the instructions of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to track down Haji Salim alias Haji Baloch and his trafficking syndicate spread across the world. Authorities have seized approximately 4,000 kg of drugs directly linked to the Salim cartel. Furthermore, many Pakistani nationals have been arrested in connection with this smuggling.
The drug network extends in many countries
Authorities said Haji Salim’s criminal network includes a massive oil pipeline that stretches from Pakistan to India and many other countries. Narcotics Control Bureau Deputy Director General Gyaneshwar Singh said Haji Saleem is one of the world’s biggest drug traffickers, supplying huge consignments of heroin, methamphetamine and other illegal narcotics through a complex network.
He said he has a huge network in Asia, Africa and the West. He has been on our radar for a long time, but in this case, I would not like to comment on Haji Salim’s name or anyone else. The investigation is still in the early stages.
One of the most wanted drug traffickers in the Indian Ocean region.
He said: ‘Haji Salim is one of the most wanted drug traffickers in the Indian Ocean region. Their operations are very large. Salim allegedly heads a large smuggling syndicate that smuggles drugs in large quantities into several countries, including India, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Many international law enforcement agencies, including the United States, Malaysia, Iran, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, New Zealand and Afghanistan, are searching for him.
It was revealed in 2015.
According to officials, Haji Salim’s drug syndicate was first exposed in 2015, when a huge consignment of drugs worth several crores was seized off the Kerala coast. Subsequently, NCB officials have seized drugs worth an estimated Rs 40,000 crore in the last two and a half years alone. Despite the arrest and seizure, Salim continued his illegal operations, earning him the nickname ‘Raktabeej’ in the global drug trade, he said.
There are special markings on the cargo.
Salim’s syndicate mainly smuggles drugs through the sea. A specially marked shipment is often used to identify its cargo. Markings such as 777, 555, 999, flying horse and scorpion were found on the seized shipment, confirming that the shipment belonged to Salim’s network.
According to intelligence sources, Salim’s shipment often comes from Iran, passing through Afghanistan and Malaysia before reaching Sri Lanka. The drugs are then transferred to small boats that arrive at the Indian coast at night.
Near the underworld Don Dawood Ibrahim
Authorities claim that Haji Saleem has close links with fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim as he has reportedly been seen visiting Dawood’s mansion. According to NCB sources, intelligence reports have revealed that the ISI has provided Salim with satellite phones to remain in constant touch with its agents at sea. Official sources also claim that Salim employs unemployed youth from Balochistan to carry out smuggling.
(Entry: Arvind Ojha)
