Continuing its crackdown against the narcotic drugs syndicate, Dibrugarh police on Thursday carried out two separate raids in the town and arrested 5 persons beside seizing huge amount of drugs, cash and gold jewellery. Led by superintendent of police Shwetank Mishra, the police team assisted by CRPF personnel first raided the hideout of one Abdul Karim, a notorious drug dealer from Kalibari area and seized 592 grams of heroin, Rs 66,000 in cash and jewellery worth several lakhs. Karim was taken into custody along with one of his henchman and two women associates.
The second raid led by the SP was carried out in Chandmari area of the town which led to the seizure of 1.1 kg of ganja (marijuana). One person was arrested during the raid. The police have registered cases against them at Dibrugarh police station under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
In Namrup too, a raid was carried out by the police on Thursday evening leading to the seizure of 0.25 gram of heroin and the arrest of two peddlers.
“We are committed to make Dibrugarh a drugs-free district. The war against drugs will continue and every single drug dealer and peddler will be nabbed. Thursday’s raids were part of the ongoing crackdown against drug dealers across the state. We have arrested one Abdul Karim who is one of the kingpins of the illegal drugs trade. We have seized 592 grams of heroin. Going by the prevailing rate of Rs 4,000 per gram of heroin, the seized drugs must have been worth Rs 24 lakh,” Dibrugarh SP Shwetank Mishra on Friday said.
According to source, Abdul Karim who was arrested in Thursday’s raid is one of the trusted lieutenant of upper Assam’s notorious drug lord Elahi Shiekh who his illegal empire activities from Kalibari area of Dibrugarh town. Elahi who is behind bar since July 2016 operates his business through his lieutenants who in turn carries out the supply of drugs through a close-knit distribution network consisting mostly of women peddlers and school dropouts. Elahi, who is now in his early-sixties controls the entire chain of operations from procurement and transport to distribution of drug at various levels. His wife Ashu Begum helps him in running the illegal trade.
It is learnt that Elahi had started out as a small-time tailor in the Kalibari area of the town in the early 70s and later went on to become the biggest drug lord of upper Assam amassing a huge fortune through his illegal business. Elahi is said to be a close partner of Pakhi Miyan alias Hazi Samsul Haque, one of the biggest drug barons of the northeast.
