The NCB has termed him the 'mastermind and kingpin' of an international drugs trafficking network spread between India, Australia, and New Zealand.
Published Mar 09, 2024 | 1:32 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 09, 2024 | 5:16 PM
Jaffer Sadiq. (X)
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Saturday, 9 March, said it has arrested Jaffer Sadiq, a Tamil Nadu-based alleged dealer of narcotics, in connection with an international drug trafficking case.
Sadiq, a producer of Tamil films, was recently expelled by the ruling DMK from the party. He was the Chennai West deputy organiser of the DMK’s NRI wing.
The opposition BJP and AIADMK in the state have been targeting the DMK over the matter.
The NCB termed him the “mastermind and kingpin” of an international drugs trafficking network spread between India, Australia, and New Zealand.
Last month, the federal anti-narcotics agency arrested three people and seized 50 kg of narcotics-making chemical pseudoephedrine in a search at a Delhi godown.
The NCB since then had been looking for Sadiq and raided his premises linked to him in Tamil Nadu.
NCB deputy director general (operations) Gyaneshwar Singh told reporters in Chennai that Sadiq’s linkages with the Tamil and Hindi film industry, some “high-profile” people apart from some instances of “political funding” were under the scanner of the agency.
Sources told PTI that a high-profile DMK leader could soon be summoned by the NCB for questioning with regard to some monetary transactions worth a few lakhs.
Singh added, “The NCB believes in doing an unbiased and lawful investigation. A criminal has no caste, religion or political party. Whosoever violates the NDPS law is an offender and we will investigate any such entity.”
“We will intensely investigate the drug money trail in this case,” Singh said when asked if any political persons were under the scanner of the agency.
He said Sadiq, whose full name is Jaffar Sadiq Abdul Rehman, went into “hiding” soon after the agency conducted raids in Delhi in this case in February and he travelled from Chennai to Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad and Jaipur before being taken into custody following his brief questioning by the NCB.
The searches by the NCB along with the special cell of the Delhi Police came about on a tip-off they received towards the end of 2023 from the Australian and New Zealand authorities about “large quantities” of pseudoephedrine concealed in desiccated coconut powder and mix food powder being smuggled into their countries from India.
The three arrested persons allegedly said that a total of 45 pseudoephedrine consignments were sent by them over the last three years, containing about 3,500 kgs of pseudoephedrine valued at over ₹2,000 crore in the international market, as per the NCB.
An additional input from the US DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) indicated that the source of these consignments was in the national capital, the NCB had said in a statement.
The NCB since then had been looking for Sadiq to “ascertain the source” of this pseudoephedrine and had also raided his premises in Chennai recently.
Sadiq, according to Singh, pumped and invested his alleged drugs trade earned money into his “front or cover businesses” of movie production, real estate and hospitality among others.
A Tamil film named Mangai was “entirely funded” by the accused from drugs money. He also constructed a hotel in Chennai, the DDG said.
According to NCB officials, Sadiq allegedly used to get ₹1 lakh per kg “cut” (commission) from the smuggling of the narcotics.
Sadiq’s name also figured in a 2019 Customs department case linked to smuggling of another drugs Ketamine to some overseas locations and he allegedly got into this illegal activity after initially trying his hands in the trade of pirated CDs, according to agency sources.
Pseudoephedrine is a highly addictive synthetic drug, and even though it has some legal uses, it is classified as a controlled substance in India, bringing strict regulation on its production, possession, trade, export and use.
It is used to prepare a synthetic drug called methamphetamine which, according to NCB sources, sells anywhere between ₹1-1.5 crore per kg in the international market.
Illegal possession and trade of pseudoephedrine is punishable by up to 10 years of imprisonment under the NDPS Act.
The Opposition AIADMK on Friday, 8 March, demanded that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin clarify how a former DMK functionary involved in drug smuggling became close to a senior police officer and other influential personalities.
Alleging that the state has turned into a den of drugs under DMK rule, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said the chief minister owes an explanation to the people on how Jaffer Sadiq, who is alleged to be the mastermind of a drug smuggling racket, gained access to a senior police official.
“Jaffer Sadiq became close to the DMK leadership and even obtained a gift from a DGP. This is very unfortunate and anguishing and needs to be condemned,” Palaniswami told reporters in Chennai on Friday.
On Saturday, the AIADMK leader announced on X, “On 12 March, a huge human chain protest is going to be held across Tamil Nadu.”
மாணவர்கள் மற்றும் இளைஞர்களை சீரழிக்கும் போதைப் பொருட்கள் குறித்த விழிப்புணர்வு ஏற்படுத்தும் விதமாகவும்,
போதைப்பொருள் மாபியா விவகாரத்தில் திமுகவின் நிர்வாகிகளே ஈடுபடுவதாக செய்திகள் வருகின்ற நிலையில்,
இந்த விடியா திமுக ஆட்சியில் தமிழ்நாடு போதைப்பொருள் கிடங்காக மாறியதற்கு… pic.twitter.com/BXVTv9b7eo
— Edappadi K Palaniswami – Say No To Drugs & DMK (@EPSTamilNadu) March 9, 2024
Reacting to the arrest of Jaffer Saqid, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai too hit out at the ruling DMK.
Taking to X, he wrote: “With many other DMK leaders moving closely with Jaffar Sadiq in the last 3 years, it is important to understand how Jaffar Sadiq acted as their conduit for Money laundering.”
The NCB has nabbed the International Drug Lord & DMK functionary Jaffar Sadiq today.
With many other DMK leaders moving closely with Jaffar Sadiq in the last 3 years, it is important to understand how Jaffar Sadiq acted as their conduit for Money laundering.
On behalf of…
— K.Annamalai (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@annamalai_k) March 9, 2024
(With PTI inputs)
