Now Reading: DRI busts drug ring, seizes 2 lakh Tramadol tablets at Mumbai air cargo
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DRI busts drug ring, seizes 2 lakh Tramadol tablets at Mumbai air cargo
On August 2, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted an export consignment at the Mumbai Air Cargo Complex that was destined for Nigeria. The shipment, declared as Pregabalin capsules, actually contained…
The Story in Brief
On August 2, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted an export consignment at the Mumbai Air Cargo Complex that was destined for Nigeria. The shipment, declared as Pregabalin capsules, actually contained 1 lakh Tramadol Hydrochloride tablets and 1 lakh Tapentadol tablets, both synthetic opioid painkillers. DRI officers seized the drugs, weighing around 25 kg and 20 kg respectively, and arrested three key accused: the IEC holder/exporter, the supplier-cum-coordinator, and the clandestine manufacturer.
The week-long investigation uncovered a multi-stage supply chain. Tramadol, a scheduled psychotropic substance under the NDPS Act, was secretly manufactured at a factory in Ambernath and packed in plain cartons. The consignment was then moved to a warehouse near the Mumbai air cargo complex, where it was repacked in white gunny bags for export. Searches at the factory and other locations led to the seizure of tablet compression machinery and large quantities of raw materials for making psychotropic substances.
The Indian Opinion
The media narrative focuses on the sheer quantity of pills seized, but rarely questions why Mumbai remains a preferred hub for illegal narcotics exports year after year. Some reports imply this is a one-off success, ignoring the persistent failure of port and airport security screenings. The real test is whether the DRI will now trace the source of raw materials and the drug's final buyers in Africa, not just celebrate a seizure that barely dents a global smuggling network worth thousands of crores.
Source: freepressjournal.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
