NCB Disrupts International Drug Trafficking Syndicate; Five Arrested with Contraband Worth Rs 10 Crore
Synopsis
In a significant crackdown, the NCB has dismantled a drug trafficking network spanning Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka. Five individuals were arrested, and a massive haul of hashish oil and charas worth nearly Rs 10 crore was seized. This operation highlights the ongoing battle against international drug smuggling.
Key Takeaways
Significant seizure: 77.60 kg of Hashish Oil and 2 kg of Charas.
International link: Network connects Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka.
Five arrests: Key suspects apprehended during the operation.
Collaboration: Joint efforts between NCB and Indian Coast Guard.
Continuing battle: Ongoing fight against drug trafficking in the region.
New Delhi, March 6 (NationPress) - The NCB has dismantled a transnational drug trafficking syndicate that connects Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka, resulting in the apprehension of five individuals and the confiscation of 77.60 kg of Hashish Oil and 2 kg of Charas, estimated to be worth nearly Rs 10 crore, an official reported on Friday.
Following reliable intelligence regarding the trafficking of narcotics across various states, agents from the NCB Hyderabad Zonal Unit intercepted a Tata Safari Storme vehicle on March 3 near Raikal Toll Plaza along the Bengaluru–Hyderabad Highway in Telangana.
Upon inspecting the vehicle, authorities discovered 2 kg of Charas cleverly hidden in specially designed compartments. Two suspects, one hailing from Delhi and the other from Uttar Pradesh, were arrested in connection with the illicit drug transport, according to an NCB statement.
The initial investigation has indicated that the seized Charas, along with an additional shipment of approximately 78 kg of Hashish Oil, was trafficked into India from Kathmandu, Nepal, through the Sonauli Indo-Nepal Border. The bulk of the Hashish Oil had already been delivered by the detained suspects to Thoothukudi for further distribution to Sri Lanka via maritime routes, the statement added.
In response to the trafficking of Hashish Oil from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka, the NCB Chennai unit swiftly intervened. Subsequently, they seized around 78 kg of Hashish Oil from three individuals, including a Sri Lankan refugee, bringing the total number of arrests in this operation to five, as reported by the NCB.
Vehicles employed in the transportation of the drugs were also confiscated. Investigations unveiled that the traffickers intended to use coastal waters off Thoothukudi to transfer the narcotic shipment mid-sea to a recipient in Sri Lanka, utilizing a fishing boat for this maritime operation.
With the cooperation of the Indian Coast Guard, the NCB successfully intercepted and seized the fishing vessel believed to be involved in the planned mid-sea transfer near the International Maritime Boundary Line, effectively halting the cross-border drug trafficking attempt.
Further inquiries have identified a Sri Lankan national based in Sri Lanka as the ultimate recipient of the seized drugs, who had financed and orchestrated the shipment of the confiscated narcotics from Nepal to Sri Lanka.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized by the NCB?
The NCB seized 77.60 kg of Hashish Oil and 2 kg of Charas, valued at nearly Rs 10 crore.
How many individuals were arrested?
Five individuals were arrested in connection with the drug trafficking operation.
What countries are involved in this trafficking network?
The trafficking network links Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka.
What was the method of transportation for the drugs?
The drugs were transported using a Tata Safari Storme and were also planned to be transferred via a fishing boat in coastal waters.
Who was the ultimate receiver of the seized drugs?
A Sri Lankan national based in Sri Lanka was identified as the final recipient of the seized consignment.
