The Pakistani drug lord running circles around Indian narcos

Around 200 kg heroin was seized from an Iranian dhow off Kochi in a joint operation of the NCB and the Indian Navy

Seizures of huge amounts of heroin in Mumbai and other parts of the country are posing a big challenge to the Indian investigating agencies. Officials from these agencies said that they have linked the entire heroin racket supplying to India to one Pakistani drug lord - Haji Saleem. Sources said that Saleem has links with at least 10-12 such cases across the county this year itself, and added that the value of the heroin was always above Rs 1,000 crore. Saleem employs several tactics to evade police, such as constantly moving his hideout. He also uses special markers so that suppliers don't mention his name.

Sources from the investigating agencies told mid-day that all heroin consignments coming to Mumbai using different ports are being supplied by one mastermind identified as Haji Saleem who operates from Iran, Balochistan in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Narcotic Control Bureau, which made several cases of heroin in the past few months, found links to a Pakistani national backed by the ISI - Pakistan's intelligence agency.

The recent 200-kg heroin bust, valued at around Rs 1,200 crore, by the NCB and the Indian Navy from a dhow in the Indian Ocean near Kochi is suspected to have links with Saleem. Six people, including four Iranian nationals, were arrested in the case. This case is likely to be transferred to the National Investigation Agency for detailed investigation into Saleem's Network.

The recent 200-kg heroin bust, valued at around Rs 1,200 crore, by the NCB and the Indian Navy from a dhow in the Indian Ocean near Kochi is suspected to have links with Saleem

On October 8, the Directorate Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 25 kg heroin worth Rs 125 crore from Nhava Sheva port in Navi Mumbai. Earlier in September, Delhi police busted a container carrying 22 tonnes of liquorice coated with heroin worth Rs 1,700 crore from the same port. Sources said that the container was parked at the port for close to one year. The special cell, which raided the container, said the drugs were from Afghanistan and Iran.

Also Read: 50 kg cocaine worth Rs 500 cr seized from container carrying fruits at port near Mumbai

Moving hideouts

Officials said Saleem operates more secretly than Pablo Escobar, the Colombian drug lord. According to officials, Saleem has been moving between Iran, Afghanistan and Balochistan province of Pakistan. The drugs are mostly smuggled to India via Iran and Afghanistan.

In September, Delhi police busted a container carrying 22 tonnes of liquorice coated with heroine worth R1,700 crore at Nhava Sheva port in Navi Mumbai

In the majority of the recent cases filed by agencies, including NCB, local police, and the Directorate Revenue Intelligence (DRI), the drugs were routed from Afghanistan.

Investigation has also revealed that Saleem has bodyguards who carry AK-47s and other latest weapons. He uses satellite phones, which have a range from Pakistan to Maldives, for communication.

According to sources, Indian agencies have in a DG-level meeting shared Saleem's details with Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan but no action has been initiated against him till date. The Indian government is going to send fresh dossiers against Saleem to these three countries, alerting about his involvement in drug smuggling to India.

Sources also told mid-day that he gets help from Pakistan's ISI as well as other countries in changing locations.

In codes and symbols

Saleem does not take money in advance for supplying heroin to different cartels, sources said. He supplies the drugs on credit and tells his people to sell the drugs first and then send the money to him through hawala. Some of his people in India who would send him money were recently arrested by the National Investigation Agency in connection with the Mudra port case.

Apart from this, Saleem also uses codes to mark his drugs. Sources said each packet of drugs in his consignments is marked with a code so that cartels know it is from him. "He marks all the packets. Nobody even ever takes his name," said an officer.

mid-day has learnt that during the recent cases, the NCB, DRI and NIA have found codes such as 999, 777, flying horse symbol and king 21 symbol in most of the packets. The packets were also wrapped in at least seven layers to ensure that there are no damages caused by water.

Supply chain

Saleem generally sends his drugs in boats which come empty from Sri Lanka. The consignment of around 350 kg of heroin worth Rs 5,000 crore is then handed over the boat during a meeting on Iran or Afghanistan waters. Most of these boats headed for India generally enter from Kerala or Kochi.

"They are super active near international waters. They sometimes even take help from local fishermen to find out if Navy boats are doing the rounds to make their entry or exit. Most of the time, they are nabbed by the Navy," sources said.

After the boat enters the Indian Ocean, the suppliers coordinate with other boats and the consignment is divided into smaller batches of 20-50 kg. This is then loaded onto other boats and supplied to different parts of the country.

An official added that Saleem's people generally escape to Maldives, Sri Lanka or other such countries in case of the presence of the Indian Navy.

Rs 125cr
Value of heroin seized from Nhava Sheva port, Navi Mumbai on Oct 8

Rs 1,200cr
Value of heroin seized from the Indian Ocean near Kochi on Oct 5

Rs 1,700cr
Value of heroin seized from Nhava Sheva port in September

350kg
Weight of most of his heroin consignments

Recent busts with alleged links

On October 7 A boat with 6 crew members and 50 kg of heroin worth Rs 350 crore was seized near Gujarat by the Indian Coast Guard along with Gujarat ATS

On July 13 Punjab police seized 73 kg of heroin worth Rs 365 crore from Nhava Sheva Port in a joint operation with Maharashtra police

On July 15 Navi Mumbai crime branch seized an unclaimed container which arrived at Nhava Sheva port from Dubai and was lying at a yard in Panvel. The container had 72 kg of heroin worth Rs 360 crore

On July 12 Gujarat police seized heroine worth Rs 350 crore near Mundra port having Afghan links

In April Delhi NCB seized 50 kg heroin worth Rs 250 crore from South Delhi having links to Iran and Afghanistan

In 2021 Two seizures, of 300 kg heroin each, linked to the Saleem network were busted by NCB