KOCHI: A day after the narcotics management bureau (NCB) and Indian Navy seized round 2,500kg of methamphetamine from a vessel in Indian waters off Kochi coast and arrested a Pakistan nationwide as a part of it Operation Samudra Gupta, the NCB stated that the supply of the seized contraband was the coastal city Jiwani in Pakistan.

The company additionally suspects that the medicine had been despatched by the Pak-based drug cartel kingpin Haji Salim. There are indicators like that of a scorpion, bitcoin and ‘Rolex 555’ on the seized drug packets, which factors at varied meth labs within the Iran and Pakistan coast.
The NCB additionally suspect {that a} mothership and different vessels carrying extra medicine are out within the sea and a search is below option to intercept them. The NCB has reportedly sought the assistance of the Indian navy for the aim.
“After investigation found that the drug was brought from Jiwani and it belongs to Haji Salim’s networks. A detailed interrogation of the arrested accused is needed. We suspect that there could be a mothership and other vessels with even larger amounts of the contraband,” P Aravindan, NCB Zonal Director, Kochi, stated.
The drug was seized from the ‘Golden Crescent’ route, identify given to considered one of Asia’s unlawful drug superhighways, positioned on the crossroads of Central, South and Western Asia.
The NCB recorded the arrest of the Pak nationwide on Sunday and he will likely be produced within the court docket. The company is prone to search his custody for additional investigation within the case.
Meanwhile, the value of the seized contrabands quantities to be greater than Rs 20,000 crore contemplating the ‘purity’ of the seized methamphetamine. Earlier it was estimated to be round Rs 15,000 crores.
“It is the purest form of Meth and costs very high. The intended destinations could be India, Sri Lanka and Maldives. We are investigating for more leads,” Aravindan stated.
The NCB can also be taking a look at the potential for native involvement in drug smuggling. The company goals to gather extra particulars from the arrested individual.