Surat Police announced that they had arrested the most-wanted drug lord of the city, Ismail Gurjar, who goes by the alias Ismail Painter. Gurjar has been known to purchase cocaine and mephedrone in large quantities and sell them in various parts of the city as well as the surrounding districts.
Following a thorough investigation that spanned several months, Surat Crime Branch undertook the daring operation to capture Gurjar. The police had received information that the drug lord was in a hideout near Tapi river embankment. When the police reached the place, Gurjar tried to escape by diving into the sea. Nevertheless, the police were successful in getting hold of him and arresting him. The police then had to bring the accused to the city by boat.
This arrest comes after Surat police busted many drug cells. On June 26, police seized 39100 grams of cocaine from Ibrahim Hussain Odia and his wife Tanveer Odia. The total drugs were valued at 39,10,000. The couple is said to have been buying drugs from Mumbai and supplying them throughout Surat. d two counts of attempted murder.
Surat Police has launched a ‘No Drugs’ campaign and so far has seized more than Rs6 crore, 64 lakhs worth of opium, ganja, charas, mephedrone, and other drugs. A total of 186 accused have also been arrested. The authorities are also working on busting major drug networks and arrest suppliers.