New Delhi, April 11, 2025 – Delhi Police cracked a slick drug cartel Thursday, nabbing four peddlers—including two Afghan nationals—who exploited student visas to smuggle heroin worth over Rs 1 crore into the capital. The dawn raid in Lajpat Nagar, after a month-long sting, uncovered 102 grams of pure Afghan heroin and Rs 2 lakh cash, exposing a racket that’s been flooding south Delhi’s streets since late 2024.
The bust kicked off with a tip—two Afghans, enrolled at a shady south Delhi coaching center, were moving dope under the visa ruse (Hindustan Times). “They’d courier heroin from Kabul to Delhi via Dubai—small batches, high value,” DCP (South) Ankit Chauhan told The Indian Express. Raids at 5 AM nabbed them plus two Indian mules—one a cab driver—ferrying the stash to dealers in Hauz Khas and Malviya Nagar. Charges under NDPS Act Section 21(c) are filed.
The haul’s no joke—102 grams, cut and sold, could hit Rs 1.5 crore on the street, per Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB, 2024). “Afghan stuff’s 90% pure—lethal,” a cop said, noting Delhi’s 2024 seizures doubled to 2,000 kg (Times of India). The visa angle’s the twist—fake admissions masked their gig, with coaching hubs as fronts. “We’re digging deeper—more institutes might be dirty,” Chauhan added.
Locals aren’t shocked—Hauz Khas lanes buzz with whispers of night deals. Posts on X fume, “Clean up the city!”—others flag visa loopholes: “Students or smugglers?” India’s Afghan student count—over 15,000 (MEA, 2023)—makes screening a nightmare. This isn’t isolated; Mumbai’s 2024 busts hint at a wider net.
It’s a wake-up call—Delhi’s drug veins run deep. Will this sting choke the flow, or just nick the beast?
