Mumbai: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Mumbai unit conducted three operations last week and seized 4.950 kg of Methaqualone, 870 grams of high-grade Bud (Hydroponic weed), and 88 kg of high-quality marijuana. The agency arrested three accused in connection with the drug seizures.
The hydroponic weed (marijuana that is grown without the use of any soil), was seized at Foreign Post Office in Mumbai in a parcel which came from the USA and was destined for Nagpur. Meanwhile, methaqualone was seized from a courier parcel which was destined for New Zealand. As there is a common connection of Nagpur in both the cases, an NCB team has left for Nagpur to investigate further, said NCB officials.
Based on information as well as the lead from a previous case, NCB officials checked a parcel in Foreign Post Office (FPO) in south Mumbai and found 870 grams of hydroponic weed on August 2. The parcel was sent from the USA and destined to a Nagpur-based receiver. “The team has reached Nagpur and we will nab the accused soon,” said an NCB official.
The second operation was based on the information and NCB officials raided the office of a DHL express courier situated in the Andheri area and found 4.950 kilograms Methaqualone on August 5.
“The parcel was destined for New Zealand and was booked from Nagpur. Another team is working on this case to nab the culprit, added the officer. Various aspects are being analysed and enquiries are being conducted to identify the syndicates involved in the international drug trafficking,” said zonal director Amit Ghawate of the NCB.
Apart from the courier cases, an inter-state drug trafficking syndicate was successfully neutralised in Karjat on August 7.
“We got a tip-off that a gang has been transporting bulk quantities of drugs across the states. After the identification of the persons, their previous history and other details were gathered, the route and vehicles were analysed and officials were deployed at certain locations. We identified the vehicle and intercepted the Innova and during questioning, the driver could not provide a satisfactory answer,” added Ghawate.
“We searched the car, and 88 kilograms of high-quality marijuana was recovered from false cavities created inside the vehicle. After questioning the driver, we managed to nab two more persons involved in the syndicate who were travelling on bikes on the highway. The consignment was sourced from Andhra Pradesh and was coming to Mumbai. The arrested accused are seasoned traffickers and were in the illicit drug business for more than four years,” added the official.
The accused were produced in court and remanded to police custody till August 12.