The Ahmedabad Crime Branch recently arrested Zishan alias Datta Pawale, a notorious drug dealer, who had been actively smuggling MD drugs and firearms to expand his control over local turf. The arrest has uncovered a deepening turf war between rival drug gangs in the city, and has raised serious concerns over the growing illegal drug trade in the region.
Acting on specific intelligence, Crime Branch officials conducted a raid in the Danilimda area and arrested Pawale at Shah Alam Society. The police recovered a substantial cache of evidence, including MD drugs, firearms, live and empty cartridges, cash, mobile phones, a tablet, a GPS tracker, a weighing machine, and other materials typically used in drug trade operations.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Pawale had been involved in smuggling MD drugs from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh for over five years. He used carriers to transport the contraband to Ahmedabad and other cities, where he supplied drugs to various local dealers. The arrested drug lord had also brought firearms into the city in a bid to strengthen his gang’s dominance and intimidate rival dealers.
According to Crime Branch officials, Pawale had transported not only drugs but also four firearms into the city a few weeks prior to his arrest. Of these, two firearms had already been sold to other criminals in the area. The arrest comes as part of an ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking and organized crime in Ahmedabad.
A senior Crime Branch officer stated, “The accused was actively involved in the illegal drug trade, distributing MD drugs across the city and to other regions. The firearms were intended to give him an edge in the turf war between rival dealers.”
Police have identified eight more suspects connected to the case, and efforts are underway to apprehend them. Authorities are also tracking members of rival MD drug gangs and investigating the broader drug network linked to Pawale’s operation. The Crime Branch is optimistic that these arrests will disrupt the criminal networks and reduce the influx of illegal drugs in the city.
This arrest has further exposed the dangerous link between drug trafficking and firearm smuggling, highlighting the violent nature of turf wars within the drug trade. Authorities have vowed to continue their efforts in curbing the rampant spread of illegal substances and firearms across Ahmedabad.