New Delhi: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested a couple who runs an import firm from Chennai and were allegedly involved in smuggling of 2,988.21 kg heroin worth Rs 15,000 crore. The substance was seized from two containers at the Mundra port in Gujarat's Kutch district on Tuesday.
According to reports, the DRI officers got credible inputs of the consignment containing drugs from Afghanistan. Acting upon the tip received, the officials seized two containers and sent samples for examination a few days back.
Upon analysis, the forensic experts confirmed that the seized substance was heroin. It was declared as semi-processed talc stones originating from Afghanistan and shipped from Bandar Abbas Port in Iran to Mundra Port in Gujarat
As reported by news agency PTI, the consignment was imported by a trading company registered in Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh.
"A total of 2988.21 kg of heroin, including 1999.57 kg heroin from one container and 988.64 kg heroin from the second container, was seized under the provisions of the NDPS (Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act," report said, quoting sources.
The officials informed that one kg of heroin is worth around Rs. 5 crore in the international market.
The officials conducted searches at several locations including Ahmedabad, Delhi, Chennai, Gandhidham and Mandvi in Gujarat and detained two persons. As per the early inputs, the officials also suspect involvement of some Afghan nationals.
Meanwhile, M. Sudhakar and his wife Durga Vaishali who run the importer firm M/S Aashi Trading Company, have been arrested from Chennai and being interrogated by DRI.