New Delhi: Delhi Police’s crime branch has apprehended a 27-year-old man allegedly linked to an interstate narcotics network suspected to have connections with an active cadre of United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I), a banned separatist outfit. Investigators alleged that he supplied psychotropic tablets from Delhi to the network.The accused, Apurba Thakur, was traced to Narela after the crime branch conducted technical and manual surveillance following a request from Assam Police on Aug 25. He was subsequently handed over to a police team from Assam and arrested in connection with a case registered at Mathurapur police station in Charaideo district under the provisions of the NDPS Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).Special commissioner of police (Crime) HGS Dhaliwal said the case originated on July 17 when Assam Police intercepted a car on Dhodor Ali Road in Majgaon and recovered 46.11 grams of suspected heroin concealed in soap boxes inside a hidden compartment. The occupant, Manuj Gogoi, was arrested.During the investigation, police arrested other suspects and allegedly uncovered links to Mridupawan Dahutia, an active ULFA(I) cadre who, according to investigators, joined the outfit in 2011. The probe subsequently revealed a suspected psychotropic-tablet supply chain operating between Delhi and Assam.Police said analysis of digital evidence led them to Thakur, who allegedly emerged as a Delhi-based supplier. Investigators also found evidence suggesting that a consignment of psychotropic tablets had been dispatched from Delhi to Assam but was allegedly halted after information about the police action was passed on to the ULFA(I) cadre.According to police, Thakur’s mobile phone contained WhatsApp chats with Dahutia dating back to 2025. An invoice linked to a consignment of psychotropic tablets was also allegedly recovered from the device. Investigators further found an online transaction involving lakhs of rupees between Thakur and Boby Gogoi, wife of one of the racketeers and arrested accused Bhaskar Gogoi. Police said the nature of the transaction is being examined.Investigators are probing whether proceeds from the alleged drug trade were diverted to support unlawful or terror-linked activities.Police said Thakur moved to Delhi in 2016 after studying up to Class X. He worked as a medical representative from 2022 before allegedly starting a commission-based medicine trade. Further investigations are underway to trace the supply chain and identify other suppliers and recipients.
