Mundra port drug bust: NIA seizes incriminating evidence after searches in Delhi, Noida
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches at five premises in Delhi and Noida in connection with the seizure of 3,000 kg heroin from Gujrat’s Mundra port.
Within a week after taking over the probe from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday conducted searches at five premises in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh’s Noida in connection with the seizure of 3,000 kilograms of heroin from Gujrat’s Mundra port.
“Today (Tuesday) searches were conducted at five places, including residential premises and godowns in Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar, Alipur, Khera Kalan and UP’s Noida in connection with the seizure of semi-processed talc stones with contraband drugs imported by Aashi Trading Company,” said the NIA in a statement.
The investigators have allegedly seized various incriminating documents, articles and items during the searches.
According to sources, the official searched few premises linked to people who have been involved in drugs business, including a residential apartment in Noida.
The DRI had seized a consignment of heroin weighing 3,000 kg, which was worth Rs 21,000 crore, at Gujarat’s Mundra port on September 17. The banned drug is believed to have been smuggled from Afghanistan.
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After seizing the narcotics, DRI officials had arrested a Chennai-based couple in Delhi on charges of smuggling 3,000 kg of heroin from Afghanistan. The duo was held after the central agency had carried out a search operation at various premises in Delhi, Tamil Nadu's Chennai and Gujarat's Ahmedabad, Gandhidham and Mandvi.
Before the case was transferred to the NIA, eight persons were arrested by the DRI, including one Uzbek national and four Afghan nationals. Sources have told India Today that soon the officials of NIA will seek permission from court to question the arrested accused.
“We suspect involvement of foreign nationals in procurement and delivering of consignment,” a top NIA officer told India Today.
The seized heroin was imported by Vijaywada-based Aashi Trading Company under cover as semi-processed talc stones which originated from Afghanistan.
The consignment was shipped from Iran's Bandar Abbas Port to Mundra Port, Gujarat.
"Intelligence indicated that these drugs have originated from Afghanistan. Accordingly, officers of DRI detained the consignment (two containers, 40 tonnes) for examination under the provisions of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic substance Act," DRI officials said after seizure of consignment on September 17.
"During examination, the forensic experts confirmed the presence of heroin. Accordingly, 1999.579 kg recovered from the first container and 988.64 kg recovered from the second container totalling 2988.219 kg were seized under the provisions of NDPS Act," added the DRI officials.
The investigative agencies suspect the involvement of a few Afghans and Indian nationals in smuggling the high-quality heroin.
The seized consignment originated from Afghanistan after the Taliban took over the country, sources said.
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