Mumbai customs seized an export shipment to South Sudan carrying roughly 10 lakh pills. Laboratory findings proved that it was 'Tramadol,' a psychotropic drug, news agency ANI reported.
The confiscated narcotic is worth Rs 21 crore. Searches were carried out in Bengaluru, Guntur, and Mumbai. So far, three people have been arrested in the case, as per Mumbai customs.
The Customs agency apprehended the chief operating officer of a Bangalore-based firm on Saturday for allegedly attempting to transport about 10 lakh Tramadol pills to Sudan, Hindustan Times (HT) reported.
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Tramadol is a pain reliever pharma medication that has been classified as a psychoactive substance and has been prohibited in India since April 2018.
The accused reportedly mislabeled the illicit material as Tamol-X-225 - a calcium carbonate tablet - and attempted to transport it abroad, but Customs intercepted the shipment before it left and recovered the prohibited psychoactive chemical, according to HT's report.
Gudipati Subramaniyam, 49, COO of M/s First Wealth Solutions and a Bangalore resident, was detained by Customs officers on Saturday morning, HT reported.
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According to Customs sources, the CIA seized one export package last month before it could be sent to its destination. The consignment was assessed at the Sahar Air Cargo Complex.
M/s First Wealth Solutions delivered the shipment to a pharmaceutical enterprise in Juba, South Sudan. The exporter stated that the cargo comprises 21 packets of 10.5 lakh Tamol-X-225 pills.
(With Inputs From ANI, HT)