DRI seizes cocaine worth ₹11.25 crore at Mumbai airport, four arrested | Today’s news
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 2.25 kg worth of cocaine ₹11.25 crore and arrested four foreign nationals at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport over the past four days, officials confirmed on Saturday. Acting on intelligence, the DRI conducted two separate operations.
On Friday, a man and a woman traveling in from Addis Ababa were captured. During interrogation, both confessed to swallowing capsules full of narcotics. They were admitted to a government hospital where there were 84 capsules containing 1.40 kg cocaine were obtained.
Earlier on Tuesday, the agency detained another man and woman from Africa arriving from Addis Ababa. Officers recovered 63 cleaned capsules containing 850 grams worth of cocaine ₹4.25 million. Efforts to track down the syndicate’s domestic agents continue.
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Last week, the Tax Intelligence Directorate seized 2,659 kg cocainevalued at approx ₹13,295 crore, during two separate operations at the Mumbai airport, arresting two persons under the NDPS Act.
Acting on accurate intelligence, DRI officials intercepted a female passenger arriving from Addis Ababa and recovered 1.575 kg of liquid cocaine, valued at approx. ₹7.875 million crowns. A search of her luggage revealed eight bags containing concealed liquid contraband.
In a concurrent operation, an African male passenger was intercepted upon landing. The traveler, suspected of the package, subsequently cleared 70 ingested capsules containing 1.084 kg of cocaine, worth ₹5.42 crore in the black market. The narcotics were seized under the Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985 and both suspects were arrested.
DRI remains steadfast in its commitment to build a Drug free Indiatirelessly capturing narcotics, busting international syndicates and ensuring national security.
Indian-origin man of five jailed for 84 years in UK drug plot
An Indian-origin man is among five gang members jailed in the UK for a total of 84 years for their role in a massive drugs plot, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Jagjit Singh, a 30-year-old from Birmingham, was jailed for 10 years and six months for being part of an organized crime syndicate that smuggled and distributed millions of pounds worth of Class A drugs into London. An extensive police investigation yielded over 300 kilograms of cocaine and more than 60 kilograms of heroin with an estimated wholesale value of almost £8m.
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The cartel members were sentenced to 14 to 26 years at Kingston Crown Court on Thursday. Singh pleaded guilty on the opening day of the trial last October.
“This case centered on a criminal enterprise planned on a gigantic commercial scale which was likely to cause violence and destruction on our streets,” said Detective Constable Leon Ure, from the Met Police’s specialist crime unit, who led the investigation.
“These offenders have organized a significant drug route into London and surrounding counties for a long time. If people wonder why we are so relentless in going after those involved in drug supply, it is because this crime fuels violence and tears families and communities apart,” he said.
