Cocaine, Alprazolam Worth Rs 135 Cr Seized As Mumbai NCB Busts Major Drug Rackets. 9 Held

The NCB in Mumbai had carried out three operations in its crackdown on national and international drug trafficking networks.

The NCB in Mumbai had carried out three operations in its crackdown on national and international drug trafficking networks. ( Image Source :Getty Images )

New Delhi: In a crackdown on national and international drug trafficking rackets, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Mumbai arrested nine people, including three foreign nationals. The NCB also seized drugs worth Rs 135 crore, including cocaine weighing more than 6 kg and Alprazolam, news agency ANI reported.

According to the report, the NCB in Mumbai had carried out three operations in its crackdown on the drug trafficking networks. "The collective amount of the total seizure is around 135 crore. In all a total number of nine persons were arrested including three foreigners,” an official said.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Mumbai NCB seized drugs worth Rs 135 crore, including cocaine weighing more than 6 kgs and Alprazolam. The NCB has arrested nine people in this case including three foreign nationals: NCB, Mumbai

(Video Source: NCB, Mumbai) pic.twitter.com/KOTYWqfRoR

— ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2023

The first operation was launched to bust a racket allegedly involved in smuggling drug from foreign sources into Mumbai, and distributing to other cities including Goa, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Hyderabad.

As part of the operation, NCB searched the house of a Nigerian national Paul Ikenna and seized 1.9kg cocaine. Further probe led to the arrest of two more people from Surat.

A landlord from Mira Road and a bank manager were also arrested for their alleged involvement in money laundering, the NCB said.

In the second operation, the NCB arrested two Bolivian nationals and recovered around over 4kg cocaine from them. According to the report, the drugs were concealed under clothing, cosmetic items and footwear.

In the third operation, based on credible information and extensive field surveillance, the NCB intercepted a vehicle near Kanhur Mesai, Tal-Shirur in Pune. Upon suspicion, the officials recovered a powdery substance and laboratory equipment, that led to the discovery of a lab in a factory shed. The NCB conducted searches on the lab premises and found 173.35 kg of Alprazolam and a large quantity of raw materials. They found another lab in the same area and recovered 25.95 kg of Alprazolam from there.