Gurgaon: Investigators are probing a suspected Nigerian-led drug supply network operating across national capital region (NCR) following the arrest of a former private airline pilot.The man from Kerala — Arshad Ali alias Ajju — met the drug gang in Bengaluru years ago before relocating to the city. What began as an addiction to a party drug eventually pushed the charter pilot into the commercial narcotics trade. In the city, his operation spread across NCR.A day after the arrest of the 33-year-old former pilot with 814 grams of MDMA, police said the seizure is the largest recovery of the synthetic drug ever made by the city police.The contraband is estimated to be worth around Rs 35 lakh in the illegal market. Investigators said the Nigerian nationals continued to be his principal source of supply.Hailing from Kozhikode, Arshad — who lives with his wife and son at Landmark Society in the city’s Daulatabad area — earned over Rs 1 lakh a month before his alleged involvement in drug trafficking came to light, investigators said.Investigators are now mapping Arshad’s financial transactions, call records and customer network to identify other members of the alleged racket. Police will also send notices to the consumers who purchased the drug from the arrested accused.According to investigators, Arshad’s association with the narcotics trade began when he came into contact with a group of Nigerian nationals in Bengaluru who were allegedly supplying MDMA. Police said he initially started consuming the synthetic drug himself, claiming it helped him remain awake for long hours.As his dependence on MDMA increased, he allegedly began procuring the drug for personal use before gradually supplying it to acquaintances in Kerala.“Initially, he only consumed the drug and later began circulating small quantities among people known to him in Kerala. As his addiction grew and he struggled to manage his family’s expenses, he realised selling MDMA could generate quick money. He eventually shifted to dealing in commercial quantities and expanded his supply chain,” an investigator said.After relocating to the city with his family, Arshad allegedly widened his network by supplying small pouches of MDMA to consumers across different parts of NCR. Police believe he was catering to a growing customer base while remaining in touch with the same Nigerian suppliers who had first introduced him to the drug.The MDMA seized from him had allegedly been purchased from a Nigerian supplier for around Rs 35 lakh. Police said Arshad paid Rs 5 lakh in advance and was expected to clear the remaining amount after selling the consignment.“The supplier is absconding and efforts are underway to identify and arrest him. We are also working to trace others linked to the network and establish the complete supply chain,” ACP Naveen Sharma said.Police believe the seizure has exposed a larger narcotics syndicate operating across NCR, with foreign nationals suspected to be playing a key role in procuring and distributing synthetic drugs.According to police, Arshad was intercepted by a Sector 39 crime branch team, led by sub-inspector Mohit, near Sector 103 before he could distribute the consignment.An FIR has been registered at Rajendra Park police station under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
