One of the largest drug hauls occurred off the coast of Kochi. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), on May 13, seized 2,525 kg of “high-purity methamphetamine” worth Rs 25,000 cr from an Iranian vessel. Indian Navy and Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) carried out the successful joint operation. As per sources, a 29-year-old Pakistani national working as part of the Haji Salim drug cartel has been arrested. There are reports that the Indian Navy and Helicopter had followed the vessel; hence, the crew sank the vessel, and the packets were transferred to a motor boat and seized from the boat. But there is no confirmation from NCB in this regard.
Methamphetamine, packed in 2800 cans in 134 gunny bundles, are in crystal forms. The vessel had reportedly started its voyage from Makran Port, Iran. The action was taken based on the information received. The country of origin of the vessel or other details is not known. There are reports that the drugs are made in Pakistan or Afghanistan and brought to Iran; it is alleged that the Pakistan-based Haji Salim drug cartel is behind the smuggling of the drugs from Iran to other countries by sea.
Drugs were packed in the gunny bundles of various rice companies which produce Basmati rice and distribute it.
The covers and packing materials are found to be Pakistan-made. The valuation of the seized materials and related goods is still ongoing; hence, the arrest of the Pak national taken into custody is still not registered. There are reports that the mothership in question has sunk into the sea. NCB seized the ‘‘cargo’’, and the seaman shifted to a boat before the vessel sank.
Therefore, a very large quantity must be in the sunk vessel. The agencies have to fish it out; only the dimension of the total quantities that came on board can be assessed. The Pakistan citizen is being interrogated, in detail, by the agencies. There is a chance for producing him before the court on May 15. According to primary investigations, the drugs are Pak-made. Three logos found on the seized boxes confirm it. The packing was intended to keep the ‘‘goods’’ intact in the sea for several days together. Haji Salim Group, the suspected shipper of the drugs, is reportedly funding terrorist activities in India. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is trying to find the terrorist links.
It appears the ‘‘seaman’’ sank the vessel as the agencies, Indian Navy and NCB, chased it with the surveillance of helicopters. Agencies caught hold of the boat when the crew tried to escape from the vessel. A satellite phone is seized too. The Pak citizen’s name is disclosed as Subair, but he keeps on changing the name during the interrogation. The destinations of the drugs are considered to be India, Sri Lanka and Maldives. Agencies are still trying to trace the dealer in India.
Observers find the attempt to bring such a large quantity of drugs to our country as part of Drug Jihad an obvious effort to fund terror activities.
BJP State President K Surendran said this is the latest evidence of the failure of the Home Ministry presided by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Meanwhile, Kochi Police has seized Rs 1 cr worth of drugs from Kakkanad, Kochi. Police seized 1 kg Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and 10 gm of hash oil from China Mathew, the accused. He hacked the police officer and ran away. Excise authorities allege that he had got involved in various criminal cases.
Recently, 50 kgs of heroin had been seized from a Pakistani boat near Gujarat. Earlier, NCB had seized methamphetamine – a highly addictive recreational drug worth Rs 12,000 crore in the illegal market. Large quantities of drugs had been seized from Mumbai and Gujarat while smuggling them from South Africa and Pakistan to India.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and RSS-inspired organisations have alleged that Kerala has become a haven for anti-national forces and religious fundamentalists. This is the latest incident of drug jihad unleashed by Pakistan and other religious fundamentalist forces against our country.
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