Five individuals, including a Sri Lankan refugee, have been apprehended as the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) dismantled an alleged international drug trafficking operation spanning Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka. The operation resulted in the seizure of approximately 78.71 kilograms of charas and 960 grams of hashish oil, with an estimated value around Rs 10 crore.
The NCB, acting on received intelligence, uncovered a system designed to source narcotics from Nepal, move them through Indian states, and ultimately dispatch them to Sri Lanka via maritime routes. Investigators pinpointed a Sri Lankan national, operating from Sri Lanka, as the alleged financier and orchestrator of these shipments. The detected plan involved transferring the contraband to agents in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, for onward transport to Sri Lanka through coastal waters.
Operational Details and Seizures
The coordinated effort involved multiple units of the NCB, with specific operations occurring in Telangana and Tamil Nadu. Intelligence led to the interception of two individuals carrying 2 kg of charas near Raikal Toll Plaza on the Bengaluru-Hyderabad highway in Telangana on March 3. This initial bust reportedly provided leads for further action.
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Subsequently, in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, the NCB's Chennai unit apprehended three more individuals, including the Sri Lankan refugee. From these individuals, the bulk of the hashish oil was recovered. Authorities also confiscated two cars, a motorbike, and a fishing boat, believed to have been used in the transportation and planned transfer of the drugs. The fishing boat, in particular, was allegedly intended for a mid-sea transfer of the hashish oil consignment to a Sri Lankan contact.
Network's Modus Operandi
The unravelled network allegedly functioned by sourcing drugs from Nepal. These narcotics were then transported across India, with the ultimate destination being Sri Lanka. The maritime route off the Thoothukudi coast was identified as a key element in the final leg of the operation, where drugs were to be transferred to a Sri Lankan buyer.
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Broader Context and Declarations
The Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, congratulated the NCB and associated agencies on this action, stating the government's commitment to eradicating drug cartels. This operation follows 'Operation Med Max,' a broader initiative by the NCB targeting global drug cartels and involving financial probes into crypto wallets and cyber forensics.