In a significant breakthrough against synthetic drug trafficking in the region, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Chandigarh Zonal Unit, in coordination with Chandigarh Police, has dismantled a Pakistan-linked methamphetamine, popularly known as “ice" or “party drug", trafficking module operating from Kharar, leading to the recovery of commercial quantities of narcotics and the arrest of two persons, including a practising advocate.
According to the NCB, the operation was launched on June 12 following specific intelligence inputs regarding the movement of synthetic drugs in the Tricity.
Acting on the information, officials intercepted a vehicle being used by the main accused and recovered 93 gm of methamphetamine and 10 gm of heroin during the search.
Subsequent raids at a flat in Kharar uncovered an additional 700 gm of methamphetamine and 250 gm of poppy straw, taking the total seizure to 793 gm of methamphetamine, 10 gm of heroin and 250 gm of poppy straw.
A woman residing with the accused was also arrested for allegedly facilitating and actively assisting in the trafficking operation.
NCB officials said the methamphetamine seized in the case is around sixteen times the notified commercial quantity under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, highlighting the scale and seriousness of the network.
Investigators have also found that the principal accused had previously been booked in an NDPS-related case registered at Chandigarh’s Sector-36 police station in December 2023, indicating possible repeat involvement in narcotics trafficking.
Preliminary investigations have revealed the existence of a well-organised and sophisticated drug supply chain with links to a Pakistan-based syndicate. The recovery assumes significance amid growing concerns over the inflow of synthetic drugs into northern India through cross-border networks and the increasing use of Punjab and adjoining urban centres as transit and distribution hubs.
Unlike traditional narcotics, methamphetamine is a highly addictive synthetic stimulant that has emerged as a major concern for enforcement agencies due to its high street value, ease of concealment and devastating impact on users.
Security agencies have in recent years reported a steady rise in seizures of “ice" across Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, pointing to an evolving drug landscape increasingly dominated by synthetic substances.
The latest operation is being viewed as part of the Centre’s intensified crackdown on narco-terror networks and cross-border drug trafficking. Further investigation is underway to identify backward and forward linkages of the syndicate, including suppliers, financiers and local distribution channels.
NCB has appealed to the public to share information related to drug trafficking through the MANAS National Narcotics Helpline (1933), assuring strict confidentiality of informants.
The strongest news peg is not merely the seizure but the investigators’ finding of links to a Pakistan-based syndicate and the recovery of methamphetamine far exceeding the commercial quantity threshold, indicating a distribution-level network rather than individual consumption.
What is ‘ice’ (Methamphetamine)?
Methamphetamine, commonly known as “Ice”, is a highly addictive synthetic stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It is typically found in the form of transparent crystal-like shards resembling ice, giving rise to its street name.
Type: Synthetic psychotropic stimulant
Appearance: Clear or bluish crystal fragments, powder or tablets
Method of use: Smoked, snorted, swallowed or injected
Effect: Produces intense euphoria, heightened alertness and energy
Health risks: Addiction, paranoia, hallucinations, violent behaviour, heart problems, brain damage and, in extreme cases, death
Why do traffickers prefer ice?
Methamphetamine is compact, easy to conceal, has a longer-lasting effect than cocaine and commands a high price in illicit markets, making it one of the most profitable synthetic drugs.
What is it worth?
While prices vary by purity and location, law-enforcement agencies estimate that high-grade methamphetamine in northern India can fetch anywhere between Rs 3,000 and Rs 8,000 per gram at the retail level, with premium-quality “ice" selling for even higher rates in urban markets.
The 793 gm seized in the present case could be worth several lakh rupees to over Rs 50 lakh in the illicit retail market depending on purity and distribution levels.
