Tuesday, 08 October 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Dehradun police have apprehended a key foreign drug peddler involved in cocaine trafficking between Delhi and Dehradun with 68 grammes of cocaine worth about Rs 50 lakh in the international market. The accused was identified as Tanzanian national Nassor Zahran Hemed, who was arrested near Kuthal Gate barrier on Old Mussoorie Road late on Sunday, the Dehradun senior superintendent of police Ajai Singh said. He claimed that Hemed is a member of the notorious Cobra gang and a case has been registered against him at Rajpur police station under Section 8/21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The SSP said that this arrest follows the earlier capture of seven other members of the Cobra gang by Rajpur police, including three foreign peddlers, two of whom were women. In past operations, the police had arrested several individuals with narcotics. Notable among the earlier arrests were foreign nationals including Pascal John from Tanzania, who was caught with 44.50 grammes of cocaine valued at Rs 31 lakh, Sanyu Dianah from Uganda, found in possession of 16.35 grammes of cocaine worth Rs 10 lakh and Regina Waweru Njeri from Kenya, apprehended with 31 grammes of cocaine, eestimated be worth Rs 21 lakh.
Singh said, “During interrogation, Hemed revealed that he worked alongside his associate known as Macdonald-who is also Tanzanian- to supply cocaine across various States in India. Their main supplier, identified as Faience, a Tanzanian national, regularly travels between India and Tanzania, supplying cocaine to Macdonald, who then arranges for the distribution via peddlers like Hemed.” The SSP said that the Cobra Gang has been involved in supplying cocaine in big parties, colleges and other locations in Dehradun, based on demand, for which they receive a commission.
Hemed had brought the cocaine from Delhi for distribution in Dehradun. Singh said that the police have launched a manhunt for Macdonald, who is still at large. “We are also in touch with national agencies regarding the smuggling of cocaine from foreign countries. We are also trying to identify those who were expected to get this cocaine supply in Dehradun. We are trying to identify them. More arrests are expected in this case soon,” he added.
