PANJIM: In a major development, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Goa has unearthed a political link in a recent raid at Mumbai that saw the arrest of Indian and Nigerian drug peddlers.
Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi’s nephew Abu Aslam Azmi has been summoned by the NCB to appear for questioning in Goa on Monday. Sources told Herald he has been called in connection with the matter related to drug peddler Sufran Lakdawala, who during the interrogation revealed the name of Abu Aslam Azmi.
The investigation will also look into the drug trade links in Goa and possibility of more people involved. Aslam allegedly owns a restaurant in Goa and his contacts with drug peddlers will be probed, besides his links in the international racket.
On July 8, Lakdawala was arrested from Mira Road with cocaine and it is also reliably learnt that the drug peddler supplied drugs to some big industrialists and people connected to the Bollywood industry.
On specific information, a team of NCB Mumbai with the help of Mira Road Police had intercepted Lakdawala and seized cocaine in intermediate quantity at Kashimara Naka Chowk, Mira Road (E) on July 6. Based on preliminary investigation, the NCB team then intercepted the Nigerian national Blessing Edwin Okereke and recovered mephedrone and cocaine in intermediate quantity at Nala Sopara on the following day July 7.
“During the operation, an unique modus operandi was uncovered by NCB. Lakdawala travelled to various cities of India to deliver the drugs specially, cocaine via air and road. He was procuring drugs from various African nationals from Delhi and Mumbai. Probe has now revealed the name of the SP politician’s nephew,” the source said.
