High level coordination and ground surveillance into nationwide crackdown – EAGLE Force

The Telangana Eagle Force, in coordination with the Delhi Police Crime Branch, NCB, and Noida Police, executed one of India’s largest multi-state crackdowns on an international drug cartel. After 15 days of surveillance and joint reconnaissance, 124 officers were deployed across 20 Delhi locations, with simultaneous raids in Noida, Gwalior, and Visakhapatnam.

Hyderabad: In preparation for the recent massive nationwide crackdown, the Telangana Eagle Force held several high-level strategy meetings with the Delhi Police Crime Branch, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), and Noida Police. These discussions shaped the operational blueprint for one of India’s largest coordinated actions against an international drug cartel.

Eagle Force teams undertook 15 days of independent surveillance across Delhi’s high-risk pockets, mapping cartel hideouts, identifying movement patterns, and studying the layouts of densely populated ghettos.

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Senior officials of Eagle Force personally spent five days conducting on-foot reconnaissance, enabling ground assessment of manpower and weapon requirements to avoid any risk to personnel during the operations.

In the final 72 hours leading up to the raids, all three agencies engaged in joint technical surveillance, which further helped identify additional target houses and refine the strike plan.

According to the Eagle Team officials, On November 25, a contingent of 124 officers travelled to Delhi in two reserved train bogies. After detailed briefings by the Delhi Police Crime Branch, they were distributed across 20 operational teams, each paired with Delhi Crime Branch officers. Before dawn on November 27, these teams simultaneously moved into position across 20 locations in Delhi to begin the crackdown.

“At several raid locations, gang members refused to open their doors, compelling teams to break them open. We suspect that some suspects used these delay tactics to flush or conceal drugs,” officials said.

During the operation, authorities also uncovered evidence that some arrested women were not only selling drugs but were also involved in the flesh trade, functioning as part of a larger exploitation network.

Simultaneous operations in Noida, Gwalior, and Visakhapatnam led to the arrest of a key kingpin and several mule account handlers who played vital roles in the cartel’s money movement and drug distribution workflow.

Officials noted that cartel members frequently travelled by air under student or visitor visas, lived extravagant lifestyles, and remained deeply involved in both drug peddling and sex trade across metropolitan hubs. Many arrested Nigerians were already named in past drug cases but continued to live freely due to delays in deportation.

“Foreigners on student visas are not monitored for college attendance. Business and medical visas were being extended without proper verification of activities. Previously deported criminals had re-entered India using duplicate passports obtained from third countries,” said a senior official.

Apart from this, police observed weak regulation over courier services and financial channels that facilitated large-scale drug distribution and laundering.

Senior police officials expressed concern over urban ghettos turning into lawless enclaves, breeding grounds for narcotics trafficking and exploitation of students and youth.

Authorities say the multi-state operation has delivered a significant blow to one of India’s largest and most organised foreign-operated drug cartels.