"Kingpin" Of International Drug Network: Narcotics Bureau Arrests Expelled DMK Functionary Jaffer Sadiq

Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Saturday (9 March) arrested Jaffer Sadiq, the "kingpin" in the India-Australia-New Zealand Drug trafficking network.

Sadiq is an expelled Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) functionary. He was the deputy organiser of the DMK's NRI wing in the Chennai West area.

The NCB began a probe following specific information from the New Zealand customs authorities and the Australian cops that large quantities of pseudoephedrine, concealed in desiccated coconut powder, were being sent to both countries from India.

The NCB also received further inputs from the US Drug Enforcement Administration indicating the consignments originated from Delhi. Sadiq-linked premises were also raided in Tamil Nadu.

Following a raid on a godown in Delhi, the police arrested three operatives of the drug racket last mo. The trio admitted that they had sent 45 consignments of drugs, weighing 3,500 kg and worth Rs 2,000 crore, in the past three years.

During further investigations, the arrested operatives also revealed that Jaffer Sadiq was the mastermind of the international drug cartel. Sadiq is also a producer of Tamil films.

The revelation caused huge embarrassment for the ruling DMK regime as Sadiq appeared to be enjoying proximity and access to top echelons of party leadership.

The party's heir apparent Udayanidhi Stalin swung into damage control mode immediately deleting all photographs of him with the drug kingpin on social media.

The online promotion posters of his wife Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi presiding over the release of a music video from an upcoming Sadiq movie also went viral.

On an earlier occasion, Sadiq also met Chief Minister MK Stalin. He was accompanied by noted film director Ameer Sulthan. Sulthan claims that he has no clue about the issue.