Ghaziabad Police arrests inter-state drug trafficker in major anti-drug operation

Ghaziabad Police has achieved a major breakthrough under its ongoing anti-drug campaign, ‘Operation Prahar,’ aimed at curbing the trafficking and sale of illegal narcotics in Noida, Ghaziabad, and the Delhi-NCR region. In a significant operation led by Crime Branch Inspector Anil Rajput, an inter-state drug trafficker was arrested, and various types of illegal substances, along with ₹13 lakh in cash, were recovered.

The arrested individual has been identified as Kaustubh Mishra alias Kartik, a 34-year-old resident of Patna, Bihar. During interrogation, Mishra revealed that he was pursuing B.Tech and MBA from Sharda University, Greater Noida, but had been involved in organized drug trafficking with his associates. The group allegedly supplied substances like imported marijuana (OG, Mango, Shillong), cocaine, smack, and charas across Noida, Ghaziabad, and Delhi-NCR. Mishra admitted that the gang operated by taking online orders and delivering drugs via courier services, with payments processed through UPI transactions.

Police disclosed that Mishra’s associates, including Shivam Mishra, Deepak, Suraj, Abhishek, Tanishk, Imran, and Bobby, had previously been arrested for similar offenses. Mishra himself was wanted in multiple cases under the NDPS Act in Gautam Buddha Nagar. He confessed that he had brought drugs from Bihar to fulfill pending orders and also intended to use the earnings for his associates’ bail.

The seizure included 894 grams of imported marijuana, 2 grams of cocaine, and packaging materials used for drug distribution. Mishra and his gang were reportedly targeting students in schools, colleges, and hostels by promoting narcotics through WhatsApp groups.

Ghaziabad Police Commissionerate emphasized that this arrest is a significant step toward controlling drug supply in educational institutions. The operation underscores the police’s commitment to eliminating drug networks under ‘Operation Prahar,’ which continues to focus on eradicating narcotics trafficking in the region.