A significant international drug operation was dismantled through a collaborative effort between the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Special Cell of the Delhi Police. Jaffar Sadiq, the Deputy organizer of the NRI wing of DMK’s Chennai West district, has been identified as the mastermind behind the drug cartel, casting a shadow over the DMK’s political landscape.
The operation culminated on February 15, after four months of surveillance, with the apprehension of three associates—Mukesh (34), Mujibur Rahman (26), and Ashok Kumar (33)—of Jaffer. They were caught red-handed packing pseudoephedrine, a precursor used in the production of methamphetamine, into a consignment of multigrain food mix destined for Australia at a godown in Basai Darapur, West Delhi. Approximately 50kg of pseudoephedrine, valued at around ₹1.5 crore per kg in the international market, was seized during the raid.
Interrogations revealed that the drug ring, allegedly overseen by a DMK functionary closely associated with Udhayanidhi Stalin, MM Abdullah (Rajya Sabha MP), and N Chitrarasu (Chennai West district secretary of DMK), had dispatched 45 consignments over three years, totaling approximately 3,500 kg of pseudoephedrine valued at over Rs 2,000 crore. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has directed all relevant agencies, including NCB, NIA, ED, and IB, to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Jaffar has since gone into hiding, prompting NCB officials to issue summons at his residence on Arunachalam Street, Mylapore, Chennai. A subsequent search of his residence uncovered several incriminating financial documents associated with the drug ring, though no drugs were found on the premises.
Jaffar’s background reveals a trajectory marked by brushes with the law, from his involvement in real estate deals to piracy and later his role as a “Kuruvi” or courier, specializing in smuggling activities. His connections in the film industry and political circles, particularly with DMK members, facilitated his ascent in the drug trade, culminating in the establishment of a pharmaceutical company, “J Square Pharma Private Limited,” in July 2021.
With the DMK’s rise to power in 2021, Jaffar’s stature within international drug circles surged, propelling him to transition from a mere dealer to a manufacturer. The pharma company’s manufacturing unit is located in Mehsana, Gujarat, despite its registered address being in Chennai.
The revelations surrounding Jaffar Sadiq’s involvement in the drug cartel have not only tarnished the image of the DMK but also underscore the pervasive influence of organized crime within political and entertainment spheres.
