India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Saturday, May 13, has confiscated 2.5 tons of drugs enroute to Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka.
The Times of India reported that the Indian Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Indian Navy intercepted a vessel carrying drugs outside Kochi where they discovered 2.5 tons of methamphetamine on board the vessel.
NCB Deputy Director General, Sanjay Kumar Singh, reported that the street value of the product is approximately INR 15,000 crores (MVR 28 million). The vessel is believed to have disembarked from Pakistan and a Pakistani national was arrested on board.
“We have arrested a Pakistani national in connection with the case. The vessels, originating from the Chabahar coast, were laden with methamphetamine made in Pakistan. The consignment was intended for sale in India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Normally, these drugs come from the "Death Crescent" (or Golden Crescent) – Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan,” Singh said.
Singh added that although the 'mother ship' carrying the drugs had sunk, the NCB has taken possession of the 134 bags of drugs that were onboard.
NCB and the Indian Navy initiated "Operation Samudragupt" in February 2023 to crack down on drug smuggling activities originating from Afghanistan. The operation has resulted in the seizure of several narcotic substances.
Generally, drugs are smuggled into the Maldives via sea. Local authorities have previously confiscated narcotic substances through several naval operations.
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