A Tamil film producer has been identified as the mastermind of an international drug trafficking network. He is currently absconding.
In Short
- Delhi Police Special Cell, NCB bust international drug trafficking racket
- Network spread across India, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia
- Mastermind is a Tamil film producer who is on the run
At least three people were arrested and a large amount of chemical used to make narcotics was seized in Delhi as part of a joint operation conducted by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Delhi Police’s Special Cell to bust an international drug trafficking network spread across India, New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia. A Tamil film producer has been identified as the mastermind of the nexus, who is currently on the run.
The three accused persons were arrested in Delhi and 50 kg of pseudoephedrine was seized from their possession.
Pseudoephedrine, a precursor chemical, is used to make methamphetamine, a dangerous and highly addictive synthetic drug. Even though it has some legal uses, it is classified as a controlled substance in India, bringing strict regulation on its production, possession, trade, export and use. Illegal possession and trade is punishable by upto 10 years of imprisonment under the NDPS Act, 1985.
Trafficking of drugs was carried out via air and sea cargo hidden in food products like health mix powder and dessicated coconut.
The NCB is cooperating with authorities in New Zealand and Australia after information was received from the New Zealand Customs and Australian police that large quantities of pseudoephedrine were being sent to the two countries.
Pseudoephedrine sells for approximately Rs 1.5 crore per kilogram in Australia and New Zealand.
Further inputs from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) indicated that the source of the consignments was Delhi.
In order to bust the network, a joint team of the Delhi Police Special Cell and NCB was constituted.
After four months of intensive technical and field surveillance by the team, it was learnt that the operatives in Delhi were trying to send another consignment to Australia.
Twenty-four hour physical surveillance was carried out by the Special Cell which eventually led to a godown in Basai Darapur, West Delhi.