NIA conducts searches in Delhi in Mundra Port drug case

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches at multiple locations in Delhi in connection with 2988.2 kg drug seizure at Mundra port, the agency said.

As per NIA statement, searches were conducted at 5 places including residential premises and godowns at Lajpat Nagar, Alipur and Khera Kalan in New Delhi and Noida in connection with the seizure of semi processed talc stones with contraband drugs. During searches various incriminating documents, articles and items were seized by the NIA.

The case relates to seizure of a narcotics substance, Heroin, at Mundra Port in Gujarat, having involvement of foreign nationals in procurement and delivery of consignment. The Heroin was found concealed in the import consignment of ‘semi-processed talc stones’ originating from Afghanistan which had arrived from Bandar Abbas Port, Iran.

On October 6, NIA took over the probe into the seizure of narcotics, which was seized by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on September 13, in which two containers that had arrived at Mundra Port in Gujarat from Kandhar, Afghanistan via Bandar Abbas Port, Iran, officials said.

In pursuance of Ministry of Home Affairs order issued on October 6, the NIA took up the investigation of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence case registered on September 13, as NIA case under section 120 B IPC, section 8 ©, 23 of NDPS Act and section 17, 18 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, NIA statement said.

Eight people including four Afghan nationals, one Uzbek national and three Indian nationals were arrested in the case. The arrested Indian Nationals include the holder of the Import Export Code (IEC), which was used to import the consignment. He was arrested from Chennai, the agency said.

UNI