Code-named 'Operation Clean Sweep', the multi-layered crackdown has so far resulted in the arrest of ten individuals, and revealed the use of modern-day tools such as the online gaming app PUBG to facilitate covert communication with drug suppliers — a disturbing sign of how digital platforms are being exploited for illicit activities.
The operation led to the seizure of 1,667 grams of premium Afghan-origin heroin, 130 grams of an unidentified chemical substance, 15 mobile phones containing encrypted communication, digital evidence, and Rs 1.65 lakh in cash. Authorities have also zeroed in on five high-value properties worth over ₹10 crore, now under financial scrutiny for suspected laundering of drug proceeds.
The Arrest That Opened Pandora’s Box
The investigation took a sharp turn when Faheem Farooq, a 37-year-old resident of Srinagar, was apprehended in Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar by a team led by ACP Anil Sharma, under the supervision of DCP Apoorva Gupta. Acting on intelligence inputs, the police laid a covert trap. Upon his arrest, Faheem was found carrying 996 grams of superfine heroin along with cash suspected to be from drug transactions.
A once-legitimate businessman whose family’s jewellery venture crumbled, Faheem had turned to drug peddling to cover financial losses. During interrogation, he revealed that he was merely a middleman, operating under the instructions of a more deeply entrenched figure — Shazia Peer, a Delhi-based kingpin originally from Srinagar.
The Queenpin: Shazia Peer and Her Global Web
Following Faheem’s statements, police raided Shazia’s residence in Jangpura Extension. Initially found absconding, she was later tracked down and arrested. From her possession, authorities recovered a concealed mobile phone loaded with contacts linked to Afghanistan, Pakistan, the UK, and the USA.
Shazia confessed to orchestrating deliveries and recruiting mules, including Faheem, offering Rs 50,000 per delivery. Her network’s tentacles extended deep into Punjab, from where consignments were sent via her aide Javed, who too was arrested soon after.
Punjab: The Transit Corridor
Investigations led to the arrest of Parminder Singh Deol alias Harry, a Ludhiana-based trafficker, who had been captured on CCTV footage handing over heroin to Faheem at a Murthal dhaba. The Crime Branch team, disguised as bank officials, tracked and nabbed Harry after both technical surveillance and field operations.
His mobile phone revealed suspicious chats with operatives in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the UK, confirming that the heroin was funneled through Afghanistan into Pakistan, across Punjab, and then on to J&K and Delhi. He named other syndicate members, including Salwinder Singh, Ravi Sher Singh, and Varinder Singh, prompting a series of coordinated raids across Amritsar and Tarn Taran.
Precision Raids and Deepening the Network
Salwinder Singh was nabbed near a Dargah in Amritsar, where officers posed as paddy field laborers to avoid detection. He had a criminal record under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Simultaneously, Sarabjeet Singh was detained, and digital devices were seized from him. His brother is already an NDPS accused. Varinder Singh alias Sonu, an addict-turned-peddler, was arrested in Tarn Taran and revealed his drug suppliers — Ravi Sher Singh and Manjinder Singh.
The duo was caught near Daleke village, riding a motorcycle loaded with 130 grams of heroin. Interrogation led police to Ravi’s rented room near Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, where 299 grams of Afghan-origin heroin was recovered. Evidence from his phone included videos and contact logs showing active coordination with Pakistani traffickers. Ravi disclosed that he often received consignments from border villages near Pakistan, underlining the porous nature of the trafficking routes.
His family, according to records, has multiple pending NDPS cases.
PUBG: The Unexpected Link in a Dangerous Game
The operation reached a shocking twist with the arrest of Jashanpreet Singh, who had evaded an earlier raid but was later located hiding in Narli village. From his house in Dhun, 372 grams of heroin were seized.
What startled investigators was Jashanpreet's admission that he had used the online multiplayer game PUBG to communicate with Afghan heroin suppliers, leveraging in-game chats to dodge law enforcement surveillance — a tech-savvy evasion technique now drawing the attention of cyber crime experts and intelligence agencies.
Beyond Narcotics: A Multi-Faceted Threat
Apart from the narcotics haul, the investigation unearthed clues suggesting that the network may also have links to arms smuggling. Authorities suspect that the cartel facilitated weapons and possibly explosive materials, given the cross-border nature and encrypted communications discovered in the devices.
The seizures also included:
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15 smartphones
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Two motorcycles used for deliveries
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Encrypted chat applications and videos of trafficking routes
Official Response and Future Action
Senior police officials hailed the success of Operation Clean Sweep as a major blow to international narco-terror networks. A Crime Branch officer, speaking anonymously, remarked:
"This is not just about drug smuggling. This is a well-oiled machinery connected to international cartels. The use of PUBG for communication shows how evolving digital platforms are being weaponized by criminals."
The Delhi Police is now coordinating with central intelligence agencies, the Enforcement Directorate, and Interpol to explore wider implications, including terror financing, digital laundering, and weapon trade.
