(Image source from: Ndtv.com)
Pawan Thakur, who is a drug dealer based in Dubai, has been taken into custody. He is set to be sent back to India, according to officials. Thakur is thought to be the leader behind the trafficking of about 82 kilograms of high-quality cocaine, valued at around Rs 2,500 crore, which was caught in Delhi in November 2024. Investigators believe this shipment was sent through an Indian port and then taken by truck to the capital, where it was kept in a warehouse before being delivered. Officials also mentioned that he was responsible for meth worth Rs 282 crore that was found by the anti-drugs agency in Delhi earlier this week. Authorities indicate that Thakur has been involved in the 'hawala' and money laundering activities for a long time.
According to officials, Thakur started his career as a 'hawala' operator in the Kucha Mahajani market in Delhi. He then gradually grew his operations into large-scale drug trafficking, leveraging his knowledge of finance to hide illegal profits. The illegal income made from drugs was funneled through a complex 'hawala' network, with indications that he used cryptocurrency transactions and foreign shell companies in India, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the UAE. In September, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) issued an international Silver Notice for Thakur, which helps law enforcement worldwide trace assets, businesses, and financial dealings related to him across various countries. Besides the investigation by the anti-drug agency, the Enforcement Directorate is also looking into how Thakur's network laundered over Rs 681 crore through fake import-export documents, crypto transactions, and falsified financial records. Earlier, this agency had searched Thakur's properties and froze 118 of his money-laundering accounts.
The ED called Thakur to appear multiple times, but he did not show up. This led Delhi's Patiala House Court to issue a non-bailable warrant for his arrest. Sources have pointed out that after the drug bust in Delhi last year and the capture of five of his accomplices, Thakur and his family ran away to Dubai, where he continued to run his smuggling and money laundering operations. He also bought several properties and expensive cars in Dubai, including a villa in the luxury Dubai Hills area.
