In India’s largest drug bust so far, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) confiscated approximately 2,500 kg of high-purity methamphetamine or crystal meth worth around 12,000 crore rupees (approx $1.45 billion) from the southern Kerala coast and detained a suspected Pakistani national.
The retrieved bags, the suspected Pakistani national, the speed boat, and some other goods seized from the “mother ship” were taken at Mattancherry Wharf in Kochi and given to NCB for further action.
This major operation was conducted jointly by the Indian Navy and the NCB officials. The Indian authorities were alerted after receiving a tip-off, which led to the identification of a vessel that was intercepted by the Indian Navy.
The suspected Pakistani was apprehended during the “Operation Samudragupt”. The NCB has now made three big drug trafficking-related seizures in the last 18 months, all involving the southern route.
Operation Samudragupt was launched in January 2022 to combat maritime trafficking of heroin and other drugs in the Indian Ocean region. Launched by NCB director general, Operation Samudragupt headed by Sanjay Kumar Singh, deputy director general (Ops).
According to a senior officer, ongoing intelligence gathering and analysis allowed for the identification of a very likely path that the mother ship would travel in order to distribute contraband.
The Indian Navy received the information, and a ship of the Indian Navy was stationed nearby.
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“A total of 134 sacks of suspected methamphetamine was recovered from the ship and one person [who] is suspected to be a Pakistani national was detained, who was on a speed boat and contraband was loaded on it,” said an official.
There have been several recent drug busts in India related to crystal methamphetamine, also known as “ice”.
In one major seizure in January 2022, the NCB and the Indian Coast Guard intercepted a vessel off the coast of Gujarat and seized approximately 300 kg of crystal meth. In another significant bust, the NCB earlier seized over 300 kg of crystal meth in Hyderabad and arrested several individuals. Authorities in India have been working to crack down on the trade and use of the drug through increased enforcement and awareness campaigns.
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