Ahmedabad man arrested in ₹226-crore crypto, drug trafficking, terror-funding probe
Updated: Jun 17th, 2026
The Gujarat State Cyber Cell has arrested an Ahmedabad resident for allegedly sourcing drug customers through Instagram and facilitating the movement of narcotics to the United Kingdom as part of a wider investigation into a ₹226-crore cryptocurrency, drug trafficking and terror-funding network.
The arrest is the latest in an ongoing probe that has so far led to the apprehension of 12 accused from different parts of Ahmedabad, including Sarkhej, Jamalpur, Raikhad, and Juhapura.
According to the Cyber Cell, investigators uncovered a network allegedly operating from Dubai, involving drug trafficking in the United Kingdom, money laundering through cryptocurrencies and the transfer of funds to international criminal and terrorist organisations.
The latest accused, identified as 35-year-old Shabbah Hussain Mohammad Hanif Padela, a resident of Bushra Hills in Sarkhej, was arrested for allegedly converting cryptocurrency linked to the network into cash.
In a statement, the Cyber Cell said its investigation into blockchain transactions worth more than ₹226 crore revealed the use of cryptocurrency wallets, including Monero and Binance wallets allegedly operated by other accused in the case.
Investigators alleged that these wallets were used to process funds linked to criminal and terrorist organisations and that Padela played a role in converting the cryptocurrency into cash.
According to the police, Padela allegedly used Instagram to identify and contact prospective drug buyers in the UK. The drugs were allegedly supplied through a network involving a UK-based associate and courier channels operated by other accused.
The Cyber Cell said the investigation has exposed links between drug trafficking, cryptocurrency transactions and suspected terror financing conducted through the dark web.
Officials said further investigations are under way to trace additional individuals connected to the network and to establish the flow of funds and cryptocurrency transactions.
