Mexican cartel link to Greater Noida meth lab busted

A surprising connection to a deadly Mexican cartel has come to light after law enforcement agencies busted a methamphetamine laboratory in Greater Noida on October 25.

Teams from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Delhi Police Special Cell raided a facility and seized around 95 kg of methamphetamine. Reports indicate that the laboratory’s activities involved a prison guard from Tihar, a businessman from Delhi and a chemist from Mumbai.

Members of one of Mexico’s most notorious drug cartels, the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), were linked to the illegal drug laboratory. India today reported.

The drug bust

Law enforcement officers of the NCB and
Special Cell of Delhi Police has seized nearly 95 kg of drugs during the raid on an industrial estate in Greater Noida. They arrested five people, including a Mexican national and a prison guard from Tihar.

**The laboratory was busted from Kasna industrial area in Gautam Buddh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh. Image courtesy: NCB**

The NCB said in a statement that the laboratory was busted on October 25 from Kasna industrial area in Gautam Buddh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh. About 95 kg of methamphetamine, a synthetic drug, was seized in both solid and liquid form.

The Delhi Police Special Cell assisted the Federal Anti-Narcotics Bureau as “the drug network has footprints in several places in the National Capital Region”.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that a Delhi businessman, who was nabbed during the raid, joined hands with the Tihar jail guard to set up the illegal laboratory, procure the chemicals required for the drugs from various sources and import machinery, said NCB Deputy Director General. (Operations) Gyaneshwar Singh.

Singh added that a Mumbai-based chemist was hired by the group to produce the drug, with quality checks carried out by a Mexican cartel member living in Delhi.

The four suspects were produced before a special Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) court on October 27, which sentenced them to three days in NCB custody.

The link with the Mexican drug cartel

The secret laboratory in Greater Noida was linked to the Mexican drug cartel known as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Originally an offshoot of the Milenio Cartel, one of Mexico’s most feared criminal groups, the CJNG has a reputation for extreme violence and intimidation tactics.

Mexico News Daily reported in 2017 that CJNG recruits who fail their training are sometimes subjected to cannibalism as punishment.

A Mexican cartel member living in Delhi allegedly tested the methamphetamine produced at the Greater Noida laboratory, and further investigation confirmed links between the laboratory and the CJNG.

Known for its extensive drug trafficking activities, CJNG has grown rapidly since its 2010 split from the Milenio cartel, operating in more than 30 countries, including the United States, Europe and, apparently, now India.

**A bullet-riddled facade with the acronym of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) is pictured in El Aguaje, Michoacan state, Mexico, on April 23, 2021. Reuters**

The CJNG cartel, founded by El Mencho – one of Mexico’s most wanted men and a high-priority target in the US – has gained notoriety for its ruthless tactics, including violence and psychological warfare, to assert control.

Several experts told it The everyday beast that recruits are often forced to perform cannibalistic acts during the three to four month boot camp.

“They can choose one of those pieces to eat in front of the boss. You have to do it without reacting or vomiting, otherwise you will be beaten,” said a source The everyday beast.

“If you didn’t want to (eat human flesh), they wouldn’t let you leave, they had you there.”

The investigation into the case

The raid on the Greater Noida lab also unearthed several chemicals essential for the production of synthetic drugs, including acetone, sodium hydroxide, methylene chloride, ethanol, toluene, red phosphorus, ethyl acetate and specialized machinery, the agency said.

According to NCB’s Gyaneshwar Singh, the investigation is now focused on unearthing the financial assets and logistics networks generated by this drug trade.

**The joint drug operation had its reach in Delhi and the wider National Capital Region. Image courtesy: NCB**

This arrest follows a series of substantial drug seizures by central agencies. Earlier this month, the NCB seized 907 kg of mephedrone in Bhopal, and the Delhi Police Special Cell, which helped in the raid in Greater Noida, recently seized 562 kg of cocaine, worth over Rs 2,000 crore, from a warehouse in Mahipalpur Extension. Southwest Delhi.

Why foreigners choose Greater Noida to set up meth labs

Greater Noida’s appeal to foreign drug syndicates lies in its combination of low-density residential areas and strategic links with Delhi, making it an ideal location for setting up secret methamphetamine laboratories, many police officials said. PTI.

The rented properties used for meth labs are often insulated, with open spaces on at least three sides to disperse the strong, distinctive odor generated during meth production, minimizing the risk of detection by neighbors, according to the police. This characteristic location factor makes Greater Noida particularly suitable for illegal drug activities without attracting local attention.

Another important advantage in Greater Noida is the availability of essential ingredients that are more difficult to obtain abroad. Ephedrine, a drug and stimulant banned under the NDPS Act and whose sale is also banned by the government, is technically available for pharmaceutical purposes, but with restrictions.

Here, ephedrine costs between ₹80,000 and ₹90,000 per kg, much less than the ₹8-10 lakh per kg price it fetches in Europe, where strict controls make it difficult to procure. However, in the black market, the price for ephedrine in India can go up to ₹2 to 3 lakh per kg, making it extremely profitable.

“The profit margin by operating here is more than double. Moreover, the meth is the second most expensive after cocaine and what they cooked here in Greater Noida was not meant for local supply but had to be exported,” the officer told the news agency.

Another factor that attracts drug networks to Greater Noida is the industrial environment, which helps avoid suspicion from local authorities.

According to the NCB, these groups are increasingly setting up laboratories in industrial areas. This arrangement allows them to transport machinery and chemicals and dispose of laboratory waste, as well as release fumes from the chemical processes without raising alarms, as these activities are common in such zones, making the operation blend in with the surroundings.