Kutch: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Ahmedabad zone have seized nearly three thousand kilograms of heroin, valued at Rs 21,000 crore in the world market, according to The Indian Express. The drugs were originally sourced from Afghanistan.
According to BBC, two people have been arrested and several others are being investigated. Officials said searches have been conducted in multiple cities across India, including Delhi, Ahmedabad and Chennai.
“Searches have been conducted in Ahmedabad, Gandhidham and Mandvi as well as in Delhi and Chennai. Two persons have been arrested and a number of persons and entities are under investigation. The probe has also revealed the involvement of Afghan nationals. A Bhuj court has granted 10-day custody of the two accused,” said the official.
According to DRI, a consignment had been imported by a Vijaywada-based company, from Iran’s Bandar Abbas Port to Mundra Port. The company had declared the imported consignment as “semi-processed talc stones” which had originated from Afghanistan.
“Specific intelligence was developed by the DRI that a consignment imported by Aashi Trading Company from Bandar Abbas Port is suspected to contain narcotics. Accordingly, officers of DRI detained the consignment of two containers with the weight of 40 tonnes in total, for examination under the provisions of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The examination was conducted in the presence of experts from the Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Gandhinagar. During the examination, suspected narcotics were recovered from both the containers and after testing, it was confirmed to be heroin. Accordingly, 1999.579 kg was recovered from the first container and 988.64 kg was recovered from the second container,” said a DRI official.
Afghanistan– largest producer of opium
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Afghanistan is the world’s largest producer of opium. Its opium harvest accounts for more than 80% of the world’s supply.
Opium poppy plants are refined to form the basis for several highly addictive drugs, including heroin.
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