In a major crackdown on international smuggling, Sanjay Kumar Pandey has been arrested for trafficking 83,090 tablets of banned pharmaceutical drugs and 26,000 packets of prohibited foreign cigarettes. Authorities uncovered his role in running a covert cargo and courier operation that shipped contraband to Dubai, Australia, and the United States.
The breakthrough came after intelligence reports revealed that certain international courier services operating out of Mehram Nagar were allegedly involved in trafficking narcotic tablets and imported cigarettes. Acting on this tip-off, a specialized team was formed under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner of Police (southwest), Surender Chaudhary, and Inspector Gajendra Singh.
After conducting a month-long surveillance operation, the team apprehended Sanjay Kumar Pandey, a key figure in the illegal operation, from Mehram Nagar. Investigations quickly revealed that Pandey’s brother, Pramod Pandey, who is based in Dubai, helped establish the illicit courier business. Pramod, who is absconding, faces multiple charges related to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Further inquiry revealed the inner workings of this international smuggling ring. Sanjay Kumar Pandey and his accomplice, Joginder, a former associate of Pramod, played central roles in coordinating the shipments.
Pramod, operating from Dubai, would provide instructions to Sanjay and Joginder via encrypted apps. To evade detection by authorities, they concealed the illicit substances in shipments of spices and clothing. The smuggled goods were then dispatched via air cargo to destinations in Dubai, Australia, and the United States.
