In a major strike against international narcotics trafficking, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), in coordination with the Counter Intelligence Unit of Delhi Police Special Cell, has dismantled a major transnational synthetic drugs cartel.
As part of Operation ‘Crystal Fortress’, officials arrested two traffickers—Shane Waris and Nagaland resident Esther Kinimi—and recovered 328.54 kilograms of methamphetamine, valued at ₹262 crore, from a rented flat in Chhattarpur, Delhi.
The seizure is being termed one of the largest methamphetamine recoveries in the capital.
Rented Chhattarpur Flat Turned Into a Large-Scale Drug Storage Hub
According to investigators, Esther Kinimi had rented Flat No. 402 at Chhattarpur Enclave Phase II exclusively for drug storage and distribution.
When NCB teams raided the location on Saturday night, they discovered over 328 kg of methamphetamine packed in bags and cartons inside one room.
Officials suspect that this flat was only one node in a much wider network. Several parts of Delhi—including Jamia Nagar, Shaheen Bagh, and Okhla—were allegedly being used for secure communication, fake IDs, temporary rental spaces, and covert handling of drug consignments. Certain individuals in these locations acted as the cartel’s “tech support”.
Dublin-Based Mastermind Controlled Operations Remotely; Waris Acted as India Operator
NCB investigations revealed that arrested accused Shane Waris operated as the Indian logistics handler for a Dubai-based kingpin.
Living in a rented accommodation in Noida Sector-5, he used fake SIM cards and encrypted communication apps such as WhatsApp, Zangi, and other secure messaging platforms to coordinate drug pickups, deliveries, and storage.
Chats recovered from his phone contain code words, secret routes, and detailed consignment maps. The cartel’s operations extended beyond Delhi to Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, and even up to the Nepal border.
Use of Delivery Apps to Move Drugs; Phones Replaced Every Few Hours
During interrogation, Waris revealed that Esther Kinimi avoided direct contact. Instead, she used delivery applications like Porter to send drug packages anonymously through unsuspecting riders.
To evade surveillance, traffickers regularly changed phones within hours of completing deliveries. They frequently shifted locations, and consignments were always “in motion”, making it extremely challenging for agencies to track them.
However, sustained technical surveillance, human intelligence, and inter-state information sharing ultimately exposed the syndicate.
Kingpin Also Wanted in 82.5 kg Cocaine Case
Investigators suspect the cartel’s mastermind is the same individual wanted in last year’s seizure of 82.5 kg of cocaine in Delhi. NCB is now working with international enforcement partners to bring him to India for prosecution.
Government Praises Multi-Agency Coordination
The government hailed the operation as a landmark achievement in the fight against narco-trafficking. In an official statement, it said:
“Our government is taking swift and decisive action to dismantle drug cartels. With strict top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top investigative strategies, the seizure of 328 kg methamphetamine worth ₹262 crore and the arrest of two operatives in New Delhi mark a major breakthrough. This operation is a shining example of seamless coordination between agencies under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘Drug-Free India’. Congratulations to the joint teams of NCB and Delhi Police.”
