In a significant drug bust, UT Police on Sunday arrested Bala, a 64-year-old woman notorious as the “Drug Queen”, from her residence in Sector 38. The arrest followed the interrogation of Ashwani Kumar (32), who had been apprehended a day earlier. Police recovered 3.44 grams of heroin from Bala’s house during the search.
Ashwani Kumar, a resident of Sector 38W, was arrested near Taxi Stand Chowk on Saturday. Authorities seized 3.1 grams of heroin from him. During his questioning, he revealed that he had obtained the drugs from Bala, prompting the police to pursue her arrest with a warrant.
Both Bala and Ashwani Kumar have been charged under Section 21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Maloya Police Station. Investigations have revealed that Bala was a major supplier of narcotics in the region.
Bala, a mother of four from the Sansi community, has been involved in drug trafficking for over two decades. She had previously faced charges of theft and housebreaking, with multiple cases registered at Sector 17 and Sector 11 police stations between 1992 and 2004. Since 2006, she expanded her criminal activities into narcotics distribution, eventually becoming one of the most prominent drug suppliers in the city.
Despite numerous arrests under the NDPS Act, Bala continued her illicit activities. She has had 37 FIRs registered against her over the years, with a 47% acquittal rate in these cases. Despite being illiterate, Bala established a well-organized drug network, employing young couriers and providing them with motorcycles for deliveries. Her operations, which spanned across various regions, involved sourcing drugs such as heroin, cocaine, opium, and smack from suppliers in Uttar Pradesh.
