By Raju Vernekar
Mumbai, Oct 2:
The 198 kg pure crystal methamphetamine (ice) and kg high purity cocaine worth Rs 1476 crore smuggled into India from South Africa, was seized in Navi Mumbai by officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).
The DRI officials stated on Saturday, that the contraband was seized by intercepting a truck carrying imported oranges, near the Prabhu Hira Ice & Cold Storage Limited, located at APMC Yard, opposite Sanpada Railway Station Road in Vashi. A large quantity of drugs was found concealed in the cartons containing Valencia oranges. The truck had left the Cold storage, the DRI official said.
The DRI officers were keeping a watch on the consignment of fruits being cleared from this cold storage for the last few days. The contraband was seized under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. The South Africa is stated to be a hub of the drugs like the crystal methamphetamine and the Mumbai is said to be a transit point for off-loading and transporting drugs.
The DRI has arrested the importer and is looking for the customs house agent and the syndicate, including the finance involved in the racket. The further investigation is underway. “Prabhu Hira” is being run by three directors and the company has storage facilities at multiple locations in Maharashtra.
The DRI officers said that this could be new mode adopted by drug cartels. After clearance from Customs, the goods are kept in some cold storage and then they are taken to their destinations.
Seizure at Airport
In another development the Mumbai Airport Customs Officials arrested a woman passenger at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for allegedly smuggling cocaine worth Rs 4.9 crore hidden in the cavity of her sandal on Saturday. The woman was intercepted by Mumbai Airport Customs officials on suspicion, and after searching, it was found that she was trying to smuggle cocaine weighing 490 grams, valued at Rs 4.9 crore to India. She has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody.
In yet another development, the Mumbai Customs Zone-III destroyed 111 Kg of drugs valued at Rs. 83 crore at Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) authorized facility- Mumbai Waste Management Limited, located at Taloja in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday. Drugs destroyed included 19.48 kgs Heroin, 4.95 kgs Cocaine, approximately 44 kgs Hashish and Marijuana, the Customs officials said.
