Tech-Savvy Engineer Turns Drug Kingpin
In a shocking turn of events, a former software engineer, Sandeep Shah, who once enjoyed a lucrative career with an annual salary of ₹15 lakh, has been arrested for masterminding a multi-crore drug racket. Shah, leveraging his technical skills, orchestrated an interstate chitta smuggling network using the dark web and encrypted payments, evading detection for years.
Shah’s operation spanned five North Indian states, with transactions amounting to a staggering ₹25 to ₹30 crore. He managed the entire syndicate remotely, never meeting his associates in person. Instead, he directed drug deliveries via WhatsApp locations and ensured payments were funneled through nearly 400 bank accounts, now under police scrutiny.
Exploiting vulnerable, unemployed, and drug-addicted youth, Shah used them as intermediaries to transport chitta from Delhi to Shimla and other locations. Authorities suspect he may have had connections with international drug suppliers, including those in Pakistan, given his use of the dark web—a hidden layer of the internet notorious for illicit activities.
Shimla SP Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi commented on the case, stating, “The accused was highly tech-savvy and used online platforms to run his illegal business. Our team, with the help of cyber experts, is analyzing the digital trail. Several more arrests are expected in the case.”
Shah’s arrest in 2023 with a small quantity of chitta in Dhalli initially seemed minor, but further investigation revealed the vast network he was operating. Police are now delving into his past criminal records, including a rape case, and are expanding their probe to dismantle the entire supply chain.
This case underscores the growing sophistication of drug trafficking networks and the need for law enforcement to adapt to these high-tech criminal enterprises. The police are intensifying their crackdown on such networks, highlighting the evolving challenges in combating modern-day drug trafficking.
