Thu Oct 31 06:30:00 UTC 2024: ## Mexican Cartel Linked to Meth Lab Bust in Delhi, Jail Warden Among Arrests
**New Delhi:** A joint operation by Delhi police and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has unearthed a large-scale meth production facility in Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, with ties to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico’s most notorious drug cartels.
The operation, which spanned across Delhi and the NCR, led to the seizure of 95 kg of methamphetamine in both solid and liquid form, along with chemical precursors like acetone and red phosphorous. Investigations reveal that the drug was intended for distribution both within India and internationally.
Among those arrested are a Delhi-based businessman, previously apprehended in a drug-related case, and a warden from the city’s Tihar Jail. The two are alleged to have hatched the plot while the businessman was incarcerated, enlisting a Mumbai-based chemist for manufacturing and outsourcing quality control to the Mexican cartel.
A fourth individual, as yet unidentified, was also detained. A fifth arrest, an associate of the businessman, was apprehended in Delhi’s Rajouri Garden. The NCB is currently working to gather details about the operation’s finances and assets.
This bust marks the sixth successful drug lab raid by the NCB this year, with previous operations conducted in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. The recent spike in drug busts, particularly those involving synthetic drugs like meth and mephedrone, highlights a growing trend among drug mafias to establish smaller labs in industrial areas to evade detection. These smaller operations allow them to minimize waste and toxic fumes, making them more discreet.
The latest incident in Delhi comes on the heels of a similar meth lab bust in Chennai, where a chemistry student was arrested for producing the drug. Additionally, a major heroin seizure was reported in Assam last week, while Gujarat Police confiscated drugs worth Rs 250 crore in a separate raid.
First Piper 