NSG commando held for drug trade in Delhi

A National Security Guard commando, who claimed to have been part of the strike team during the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, was arrested in New Delhi along with an accomplice for allegedly indulging in drug trade and 26 kilograms of a banned hypnotic drug with street value of Rs 1 crore seized, police said on Friday.

Kuldeep, 27, who hails from Alwar in Rajasthan, and Naresh were apprehended from south Delhi's Saket late on Tuesday night following a tip off, a senior police official said.

"940 grams of Methaqualone, a sedative-hypnotic drug that is similar in effect to barbiturates, a general central nervous system depressant, was recovered from them. Another 25 kg of the drug was seized from Delhi and Gurgaon," he said.

Delhi police has informed the NSG about the arrest of the commando, who is believed to have been part of a team which was assigned to battle terrorists who attacked Mumbai in November 2008.

Investigators believe that the banned contraband was processed in Pakistan and was to be delivered to a city-based high profile drug dealer.

A case under sections 22, 25 and 29 of Narcotic Drugs and the Psychotropic Substances Act.

"A policeman received information that two men, including an NSG commando, would come there to deliver the contraband. He informed his senior officials and a raiding team in plain clothes laid a trap," the official said.

Kuldeep was on a motorcycle bearing a Rajasthan registration number while Naresh was riding another motorcycle with Haryana registration number.

The commando told the police that he was part of various NSG teams involved in fighting terrorists.

"It was his wish to have quick money that drove him into drug trade," the official claimed.

While arresting them, the official said, the duo were given an option by police to go through a physical checking process either in front of them or before a magistrate.

"They agreed to a frisking by police. During frisking, a plastic bag was found from Kuldeep's possession and inside it a golden colour packet that contained white colour powder, which later turned out to be Methaqualone," the official said.