Haji Salim, known infamously as “Lord of Drugs,” has earned a notorious reputation as one of the most influential figures in global drug trafficking. Operating primarily from Pakistan, he leads an expansive criminal network responsible for smuggling large quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, and other illicit substances into India and beyond. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) of India has launched significant operations to dismantle Salim’s empire, with “Operation Sagar Manthan” emerging as a key effort in the fight against his narcotics syndicate.

The Rise Of Haji Salim

Haji Salim’s criminal activities came into the spotlight in 2015 when a major drug consignment linked to him was seized in Kerala. Over the years, authorities have traced numerous large-scale drug busts back to him, making his name synonymous with narcotics smuggling in India. He is also closely connected to the infamous fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim, as the two are said to be neighbours in Pakistan’s Balochistan province. Salim reportedly runs his operations with the support of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI.

Operation Sagar Manthan

In response to the growing threat posed by Haji Salim’s cartel, the Indian government launched “Operation Sagar Manthan” earlier this year. The operation is a collaborative effort between the NCB, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and Gujarat Police’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). The primary objective is to disrupt maritime drug trafficking, which Salim heavily relies on. So far, the operation has led to the seizure of around 3,400 kg of narcotics, and multiple arrests, including citizens from Iran and Pakistan.

The operation focuses on intercepting shipments that are sent via sea routes, a method Salim has perfected. His drugs are often packed with code words like “777,” “555,” “999,” “scorpions” and “flying horse” to avoid detection. The consignments typically start from Iran, pass through countries like Malaysia, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka, and are finally delivered to coastal cities in India, such as Gujarat and Kerala.

“Raktbeej”: Haji Salim’s Code

Salim’s cartel is so powerful that he has been named “Raktbeej” (meaning “the seed of blood”) in reference to his dominance in drug trafficking in India. He is responsible for about 70 per cent of the drug smuggling across India’s seas. His syndicate operates globally, with links to countries such as Mauritius, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, America, and even Afghanistan. Salim uses unemployed youth from Balochistan as his foot soldiers, drawing them into the drug trade.

Despite his wide-reaching operations, very little is known about Salim personally. Authorities only have an old photograph of him, and details about his life remain scarce. His network is believed to be bolstered by the ISI, which helps him ensure that his operations remain secure and undisturbed by international law enforcement.

High-Profile Arrests

In recent months, the NCB has made significant progress in curbing Salim’s narcotics shipments. The operation, “Sagar Manthan-4,” resulted in the seizure of 700 kg of methamphetamine off the Gujarat coast. The authorities had received intelligence about an unregistered ship carrying drugs, and once it entered Indian waters, the NCB, Navy, and ATS launched a coordinated operation to intercept it. During this bust, eight foreign nationals, believed to be Iranians, were arrested.

Authorities have also made arrests of Pakistani nationals linked to Salim’s drug pipeline. Salim’s operation stretches far beyond India’s borders, with his syndicate’s reach affecting countries across Asia, Africa, and Western nations.

The NCB remains committed to dismantling Haji Salim’s narcotics empire. With continued intelligence-sharing and coordination between international law enforcement agencies, efforts to break the syndicate are expected to intensify.

New Delhi:

In a significant move, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) of India launched a massive operation under ‘Operation Sagar Manthan’ to dismantle the large-scale drug cartel activities of wanted smuggler Haji Salim, also known as “Lord of Drugs.”

According to officials, the operation was launched on the directions of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to track down Haji Salim aka Haji Baloch and his trafficking syndicate spread worldwide. As part of this operation, authorities have seized nearly 4,000 kilograms of illicit drugs linked directly to Salim’s cartel, with several Pakistani nationals arrested in connection with the haul.

The criminal network of Haji Salim is suspected to be responsible for a massive drug pipeline spanning multiple countries, from Pakistan to India and beyond, officials said.

Speaking to ANI, Deputy Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau, Gyaneshwar Singh, said, “Haji Salim is one of the biggest drug traffickers in the world, who supplies large shipments of heroin, methamphetamine, and other illegal narcotics through a complex network that spans across Asia, Africa, and the West. He has a very big network. He has been on our radar for a long time but in this case, I would not like to comment on Haji Salim’s name or anyone else’s name because the investigation is still at a very initial stage.”

Salim is allegedly the leader of a massive smuggling syndicate responsible for trafficking large quantities of narcotics across several countries, including India, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Multiple international law enforcement agencies including those in the United States, Malaysia, Iran, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, New Zealand, and Afghanistan are on the lookout for him.

“He is one of the most wanted drug kingpins in the Indian Ocean region. His operations are vast, and the scale of his trafficking syndicate is unparalleled,” he said.

“Salim’s network is linked to narco-terrorism activities that destabilize the region. His drugs are not only a menace to society but also fund terror operations across borders,” added Singh.

According to officials, the drug syndicate of Haji Salim was first unearthed in 2015 when a massive consignment of drugs worth several crores was intercepted near the coast of Kerala.

Following this, NCB officials seized drugs worth an estimated Rs 40,000 crores in the past two and a half years alone. Despite the arrests and confiscations, Salim continued his operations illegally which earned him the nickname “Raktbeej” in the global drug trade, they said.

One of the key tactics used by Salim’s syndicate is the smuggling of drugs through the sea, often using specially marked shipments to identify his cargo. Drugs bearing markings such as 777, 555, 999, flying horses, and scorpions have been consistently found on seized shipments, marking them as belonging to Salim’s network.

According to intelligence sources, Salim’s shipments often originate from Iran, passing through Afghanistan and Malaysia, before reaching Sri Lanka. The drugs are then transferred to smaller vessels that transport the narcotics to the Indian coastline mostly at night, landing at obscure ports and beach locations.

Authorities claim that Haji Salim has a close connection with fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim, as he was allegedly seen entering and leaving Dawood’s mansion. The authorities have no other information except for an old photograph and an address in Karachi, Pakistan, allegedly near Ibrahim’s hideout, the sources said.

As per NCB sources, intelligence reports suggested that ISI has provided Salim with satellite phones, to stay in constant touch with his agents at sea. Official sources also claim that Salim employs unemployed youth from Balochistan to carry out smuggling operations.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)