In a major breakthrough, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials have successfully dismantled an international drug smuggling racket, leading to the arrest of three individuals, including the alleged mastermind – a Nigerian national, and a woman in Goa. The operation also resulted in the seizure of approximately 5.2 kilograms of narcotics, suspected to be heroin, with an estimated worth of over Rs 36 crore.
The investigation was set in motion when DRI Headquarters and DRI Bengaluru received specific intelligence about the illicit drug trafficking on July 29. Acting on the information, DRI officials intercepted an Indian national at Delhi airport, who had arrived from Malawi via Addis Ababa on a flight. Upon inspecting the passenger’s trolley bags, the officials discovered two separate packages containing the narcotics concealed within.
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During interrogation, the arrested individual revealed his intent to deliver the illegal consignment to an Indian woman in Goa. Subsequently, a carefully planned operation was executed at a hotel in Calangute, Goa, where the woman had arrived earlier from Hyderabad to receive the contraband.
Upon her apprehension, the woman disclosed her plan to further transport the narcotics to Delhi. The DRI officials acted swiftly and reached Delhi, where they arrested the alleged Nigerian mastermind behind the entire international racket.
All three accused have been placed under arrest, and the seized narcotics have been secured as evidence. The authorities are taking further legal actions in the matter to ensure that justice is served.
Goa, being a popular tourist destination, has been prone to drug-related activities, but Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance stance against drugs in the state. He stated that the Goa Police are vigilant in dealing with such cases, having successfully booked several drug-related incidents in various villages. Notably, no drug cases have been reported in any school or college across the state.
This operation comes as another significant success for the DRI, following a previous drug bust last year in Delhi, where 34.7 kilograms of heroin, valued at around Rs 50 crore, were seized, hidden within salt imports from Iran to India. The suspects involved in that case had connections to Goa, thus emphasizing the need for continued vigilance against drug trafficking networks.
