The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) recovered 52 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Mundra Port in Gujarat on Thursday. In the international drug market, the consignment is estimated to be worth 500 crore.
According to DRI statement, an intelligence input was received about certain consignments imported from Iran were likely to contain narcotic drugs. The DRI launched ‘Operation Namkeen’ and a consignment declared to containing 1,000 bags of common salt imported from Iran was identified for probe, the DRI said in a statement.
After a three-day long investigation from May 24 to 26, some bags were found to be suspicious as a substance having distinct smell was found from them. The officials of Directorate of Forensic Sciences conducted the tests and reported the presence of cocaine in these samples.
The DRI is looking into the roles of those involved in the drug delivery. During its anti-drug crackdown across the country in the previous financial year, the agency seized 321 kgs of cocaine worth Rs 3,200 crore.
The National Investigation Agency has filed charges against 16 people, alleging that a large amount of Afghan drug was smuggled into India at the request of Pakistan-based terrorist groups.