The Uttarakhand Police has launched a major successful operation to strengthen Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's 'Drugs Free Devbhoomi' campaign. Acting on the directives of DGP Deepam Seth, a joint operation by the STF and local police has exposed an inter-state and international drug syndicate. The investigation revealed that the gang was manufacturing MDMA drugs under the guise of poultry farms in the districts of Champawat and Pithoragarh. The main accused, Kunal Kohli, and his associates were running the drug factory on rented farms in Banbasa and Suwalekh. The prepared drugs were being supplied to Mumbai and several other major cities across the country.
The police arrested Kunal Kohli from the Nanakmatta area. From his possession, 7.41 grams of prepared MDMA, 28 kg of drug powder, and 126 liters of restricted precursor chemicals were recovered. The seized chemicals include Dichloromethane, Acetone, HCL, Methylamine, and Sodium Hydroxide, which are prohibited under the NDPS Act. According to the police, these chemicals could be used to make approximately 6 kg of MDMA, with an estimated international market value of around ₹12 crore. The search for other accused in the case is ongoing, and the investigation is proceeding deeply.
Drug Network Spanned from Maharashtra to Nepal
During the investigation, it was revealed that this drug network extended from Thane in Maharashtra, to Ghaziabad, Varanasi, and even to Nepal. The police also arrested Monu Gupta, Bheem Yadav, Aman Kohli, and Rahul's wife, Isha, along with Kunal Kohli. 5.6 kg of MDMA was seized from Isha. To strengthen its grip on the syndicate, the police are investigating a major drug seizure from Maharashtra on May 31st, in which meth balls were recovered. The accused were caught red-handed after a raid on a poultry farm in the Thal area of Pithoragarh.
These accused had attempted to hide in Tanakpur after fleeing from Nagpur. An investigation against them was conducted in Tanakpur in September 2024, where a b odor of chemicals emanated from the farm. The accused had attempted to conceal their real business by procuring chemicals along with poultry feed.
Chemicals Procured Without License
The Uttarakhand Police stated that the gang was procuring restricted precursor chemicals without licenses from companies in Ghaziabad, Varanasi, and Thane. An investigation into these companies has also been initiated. Strict action is being taken against the accused under the NDPS Act. The Mumbai Police has already registered three NDPS cases against Kunal Kohli. The investigation has also revealed that this syndicate is connected to the Mumbai underworld. The owner of the farm is reported to be Ramesh Jinwal, who has deep connections with the underworld. The police are now conducting an in-depth investigation into the financial transactions, assets, and international connections of the gang.
DGP Deepam Seth stated that strict action is being taken under a multi-pronged strategy to eliminate the drug network throughout the state. Illegal properties are being identified and seized, and preparations are underway for rigorous punishment under PIT-NDPS. So far, 44 units have been identified in the state where prohibited chemicals are being used, while investigations are ongoing at 172 pharmaceutical units. Drug detection kits have been provided to all police stations to enable on-the-spot testing of suspicious substances. The DGP also announced a reward of ₹1 lakh for the police team for their success in this operation.
This action has marked a significant achievement in realizing the dream of a drug-free Uttarakhand in the state, and the police team is committed to intensifying the war against drugs.
