As part of "Operation Garuda," aimed at combating organized drug cartels globally, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) intercepted a shipping container at Visakhapatnam Port and seized a massive consignment of contraband. The CBI was acting on information received through Interpol and with the assistance of the Vishakapatnam Customs Department.
The container had been dispatched from Santos Port, Brazil', destined for delivery in Visakhapatnam, India, under the name of a private company based in Visakhapatnam. The shipper had declared the contents of the container as 1,000 bags of Inactive Dried Yeast, each weighing 25 kg, totalling 25,000 kg.
However, upon preliminary examination using narcotics detection mechanisms, it was revealed that the shipped material contained narcotic drugs mixed with Inactive Dried Yeast. Consequently, the entire consignment was seized, and an FIR (First Information Report) has been filed against the consignee and other unidentified individuals.
This operation underscores the involvement of an international criminal network engaged in the illicit importation of narcotic drugs by blending them with other substances, commonly referred to as cutting agents.
In the past, based on Interpol inputs, the CBI has undertaken similar operations and initiated legal proceedings under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act as part of its commitment to combat the global drug menace.
The investigation into this matter is going on.
Operation Garuda
The CBI launched Operation Garuda in September 2022 aiming to dismantle the drug network in the country with foreign links. The focus is especially on the Indian Ocean Region. The operation involves the quick exchange of intelligence with the Interpol. The CBI is also coordinating with the Narcotics Control Bureau and state agencies to gather intel on drug trafficking.