Connect with us
Thursday,14-November-2024
Breaking News

Crime

NIA attaches 2 properties of key accused in heroin smuggling case

Published

on

 The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday said they have attached two properties of a key accused in a case related to the smuggling of 102 kg of heroin from Afghanistan via the Attari border.

The properties belong to Razi Haider Zaidi, a notorious heroin smuggler from Okhla Vihar, New Delhi.

The NIA said the immovable properties was attached under section 68(F) of the NDPS Act include a residential plot measuring 121.35 sq.metres in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, which the accused had purchased in his name for Rs 4 lakhs. 

The second property is a residential two-stroreyed building in Okhla Vihar, purchased for Rs 24.5 lakhs in the name of Zaidi’s wife. 

According to the NIA, Zaidi purchased the two properties from the sale proceeds of heroin. 

He was arrested by the NIA on August 24, 2022 and a charge sheet against him, along with three other co-accused persons, was filed on December 16 under various sections of the NDPS Act. 

The drug consignment of a total of 102.784 kg heroin was seized by Indian Customs department on April 24 and 26, 2022. 

The narcotics, which had reached Attari on April 22 were found concealed in a consignment of licorice roots. 

NIA investigations revealed that Zaidi was the receiver of the consignment. 

The probe further revealed that on the directions of Zaidi’s Dubai-based absconding co-accused Shahid Ahmed, the heroin consignment was sent Nazir Ahmed Qani, a smuggler from Mazar-e-Sharif in Afghanistan.

It was supposed to be delivered to Zaidi who had handed over Rs 11 lakhs in cash to another accused as advance payment of the said consignment. 

Further investigations revealed that Shahid Ahmed had directed Zaidi to collect and deliver heroin consignments from various parts in India from time to time who had delivered them to different associates. 

Zaidi had also collected cash around Rs 2.5 crore from various states in India, as sale proceeds of heroin, the NIA said. 

From this, he had taken his share and had channelised some of the drug proceeds into Shahid Ahmed’s bank account. 

He handed over the rest as cash to Shahid’s brother Azeem Ahmed and other associates. 

In February 2022, Zaidi Shahid Ahmed and Qani had smuggled heroin concealed in licorice roots imported from Afghanistan. 

The NCB had recovered 50 kg heroin from Zaidi’s possession, following which a charge sheet was filed against him. 

“It has come on record that accused Zaidi is a notorious drug smuggler and supplier and in February 2022, he had imported 640 cans of chemicals through Iran for processing heroin at his rented godown in Muzaffarnagar, with the assistance of Afghan nationals sent by the Afghan based accused Shahid Ahmed. 

“The said narcotics were later seized by NCB, New Delhi in a joint operation with ATS, Gujarat,” the NIA said. 

Investigations have also unearthed that in November 2021, on the instructions of Shahid Ahmed, Zaidi and two of his associates namely Avtar Singh and Mohd. Imran had gone to Ahmedabad twice for collection of narcotics, which they brought to Delhi and supplied to their assaociates. 

Apart from the above mentioned instances of drugs smuggling in which accused Zaidi was arrested by different law enforcement agencies, he had successfully smuggled heroin and collected money derived from its sales from various places of Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat. 

Initially, the case was investigated by Indian Customs, Amritsar and later, under directions of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, NIA took over the prove. 

Crime

Wildlife Smuggling Racket Busted: Rare Snakes, Reptiles, Caged Orangutan Rescued From Dombivli House

Published

on

Thane: In a significant operation exposing a wildlife smuggling racket, the Forest Officials rescued rare species of animals from a highrise in Dombivli. The officials raided an apartment in Palava City, Dombivli and found exotic animals including lizard, turtles, rare species snakes and other reptiles stored in the flat. Horrifying enough, the team found a monkey caged in the washroom of the apartment.

It was later confirmed that the rescued animals included Ignuana (lizard), an Orangutan and python. The operation was conducted by the Forest Range Officers from Thane and Kalyan along with a team from Manpada Police Station after a tip.

The officials did not find any accused present in the apartment at the time of the raid. A case under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 has been registered and a search for the accused is underway. Meanwhile, the seized species are handed over to a local NGO on a temporary basis for observation.

The video of the forest officials raid surfaced on the internet shows a boy opening the door of the well-kept apartment. After entering the flat, the officials gradually come across wildlife species stores in small cage, plastic boxes piled up in the passage and shocking enough an Orangutan in washroom at the end of the apartment.

As per the statement issued by the police, the teams raided the 8th floor apartment in B wing of Savarna Building in Palava City, Dombivli. In the action, the exotic animals seized as prima facie identified as python, ignuana (lizard), turtle, snake etc. The seized wildlife species, on temporary basis, are handed over to Birsa Munda- a local NGO. The pachanama, documentation and search for the accused is underway, it added.

Continue Reading

Crime

Mumbai: Unidentified Body Of Man Chopped Into 7 Pieces Stuffed In Plastic Boxes Found Near Gorai Beach; Probe On

Published

on

Mumbai: The dismembered body of a man, estimated to be between 25 and 40 years old, was discovered in several plastic boxes on the side road which goes to Gorai Beach in Mumbai on Sunday.

Upon receiving the information, police arrived at the scene and took the body into custody. It was later sent for a post-mortem examination. The body has not yet been identified, and a case has been registered.

According to police, on Sunday, a male body was found near Picxy Hotel, Babar Pada, Gorai, Borivali West. The body was cut into seven parts and packed in four plastic boxes. The deceased, believed to be between 25 and 40 years old, was wearing dark blue jeans and black shoes. His right hand bore tattoos.

A resident named Santosh Shinde, 55, from Mira Road, informed the Gorai police after learning about the incident. The Gorai police recovered the body from Shefali village in the Babarpada area.

A forensic team is currently investigating the case, and inquiries are ongoing in the vicinity of the incident location. Police have stated that the recovered body remains unidentified. The Gorai police have registered a case, and further investigation is underway.

A special team has been formed to investigate, and information is being gathered from CCTV footage and nearby police stations to assist in identifying the body.

A police officer said that the body was sent to Bhagwati Hospital for a post-mortem. “We can’t conclude anything immediately, as we are still investigating the matter,” the officer said.

Continue Reading

Crime

Mumbai Cops and Poll Squads Seize 1.95 kg of Gold Worth Rs 1.43 Crore in Dahisar

Published

on

Mumbai: Cops, poll flying squads seize 1.95 kg of gold worth Rs 1.43 cr in Dahisar

Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, enforcement agencies in Mumbai’s Dahisar have seized 1.95 kg of gold valued at Rs 1.43 crore.

During a routine inspection at Avdhoot Nagar in Dahisar West, the Static Surveillance Team No. 9, led by Yatin Dhondekar and under the guidance of Returning Officer Sheetal Deshmukh of the 153-Dahisar Assembly Constituency, successfully confiscated 1.95 kg of gold valued at Rs 1.43 crore.

The seizure was part of routine surveillance measures designed to prevent the unauthorised movement of precious metals and unaccounted cash.

This significant operation underscores the SST’s commitment to curbing illegal transactions of cash, precious metals, and liquor in the region, aimed at preventing undue influence on voters during the election period.

The Model Code of Conduct was enforced in the state on October 15 ahead of the polls scheduled to be held on November 20.

Voting for the 288-member Maharashtra assembly will be held on November 20 and counting on November 23.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending