one container had nearly 2,000 kilograms of heroin inside
Almost three tonnes of heroin worth around £1.9 billion has been seized at an Indian port following a major operation.
Officials discovered the drugs at Gujarat’s Mundra Port where they had arrived from the Bandar Abbas Port in Hormozg?n, Iran.
Two people, believed to be a couple who run a company based in the city of Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, have been arrested in connection with the drugs.
Residing in Chennai, they appeared before a court in Bhuj, Gujarat on Monday, September 20, 2021, and were granted 10 days custody by special judge CM Pawar.
Several others, including Afghan nationals, are also being investigated in regards to the shipment which originated in Afghanistan, the world’s largest opium producer.
It was there that the narcotics were declared to be semi-pressed talc stones.
It is thought that they were meant to eventually arrive in the northern Indian state of Punjab as their final destination.
Further forensic testing to determine the exact quantity and value of the drugs by experts from the Forensic Sciences Laboratory in Gandhinagar, Gujarat was undertaken.
It was here that it was found that one container had nearly 2,000 kilograms of heroin inside while the other had 980 kilograms.
Anti-smuggling intelligence officials made the find after receiving a tip-off which led to a search of multiple cities across India, including Delhi, Ahmedabad and Chennai.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Balesh Kumar, said:
“When our officers detained the consignment and examined it, suspected narcotic drugs were recovered from the containers and the presence of heroin was confirmed.
“Investigations conducted so far have also revealed the involvement of Afghan nationals, who are under investigation.”
It comes after an Iranian boat off the Gujarat coast carrying over 30kg heroin worth more than Rs. 150 crore (£14 million) was intercepted on Saturday, September 18, 2021.
The joint investigation between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) led to seven Iranian nationals being detained in Gujarat pending further investigation.
A Ministry of Defense spokesperson confirmed the information in a tweet the following morning which read:
“On an intelligence-based joint act, India Coast Guard with ATS Gujarat apprehended Iranian boat in Indian waters with seven crew carrying drugs.
“The boat is brought to nearest Port for further rummaging and investigations.”
The western coast state of Gujarat has recently become the preferred route for transporting narcotics from nearby Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
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