The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Gujarat): The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) apprehended three individuals linked to fugitive drug dealer Isa Hussain Rao, including his wife and son, for their alleged involvement in smuggling 8 kg of heroin into India through the sea route and delivering it to a foreign recipient in Delhi last October.
Isa Hussain Rao, hailing from Jodia village in Jamnagar district and currently evading authorities in an African country since 2021, was a key figure in a major heroin seizure worth Rs 600 crore by the Gujarat ATS in Morbi district in 2021.
The arrested individuals, including Rao’s wife Tahira and son Arbaz, were residents of Jodia village.
The investigation revealed that Rao’s associates in Pakistan facilitated the smuggling of 120 kg of heroin worth Rs 600 crore via the sea route to Morbi. Following the same method, Rao orchestrated the smuggling of 8 kg of heroin in October last year with the assistance of a Pakistan-based trafficker known only as Murtaza.
Acting on Rao’s instructions, a Gujarat-registered boat received the contraband near the Oman coast from Murtaza, who was aboard another vessel. Subsequently, the Gujarat-registered boat transported the heroin to Veraval harbour, from where it was delivered to a foreign national in Delhi via Abu Road in Rajasthan.
The ATS investigation further revealed the active involvement of Rao’s wife, daughter Masuma, son Arbaz, and Masuma’s fiancé Rizwan Taiyab in the delivery and transportation of the drug consignment to Delhi as per Rao’s directives.
While Tahira, Arbaz, and Rizwan were arrested on Wednesday, efforts are underway to apprehend others involved, including Masuma, Isa Rao, Murtaza, and the foreign national recipient, as confirmed by the anti-terror agency.
