New Delhi, July 26
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Mumbai has seized 10.990 kg of ephedrine worth Rs 5 crore concealed in three international courier parcels destined for New Zealand and arrested a key suspect from Chennai in connection with an alleged international drug trafficking network.
According to the NCB, the operation was carried out following specific intelligence inputs received by its Mumbai Zonal Unit. The agency intercepted three courier parcels on July 21 and July 25, leading to the recovery of the controlled substance and the arrest of one accused, identified as S. Hameed, from Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
The NCB said it had been tracking an international ephedrine trafficking syndicate allegedly operating from Chennai. The accused are suspected of using forged identity documents to book international courier consignments for foreign destinations. To avoid detection by law enforcement agencies, members of the network reportedly travelled to different cities, including Mumbai and Pune, to dispatch the parcels.
Based on credible intelligence, NCB officers identified and intercepted two suspicious courier parcels in Mumbai on July 21. During inspection, the parcels appeared to contain floor mats. However, a detailed examination revealed that 7 kg of ephedrine had been carefully concealed between multiple layers of floor mats and cloth rolls. Officials also found that the documents attached to the consignments were forged.
Further investigation led officers to the Triplicane area of Chennai, where they traced the suspected handler of the operation. A search of the premises resulted in the arrest of S. Hameed and the recovery of several incriminating items, including packing materials, a digital weighing machine, heat-sealing machines, plastic bags, forged identity documents and digital devices.
Hameed was arrested on July 23 and subsequently brought to Mumbai for further investigation.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly disclosed information about another courier parcel that was already in transit to New Zealand. Acting on this lead, NCB officials intercepted the parcel in Maharashtra's Kalyan district on July 25.
Upon examination, investigators recovered an additional 3.990 kg of ephedrine concealed inside layers of bedsheets and photo frames using a similar method.
The NCB said ephedrine is a controlled substance with limited medical applications and is regulated under strict pharmaceutical guidelines. However, it is widely misused as a precursor chemical for the illegal manufacture of Methamphetamine, a highly addictive synthetic drug. The agency said Methamphetamine affects brain neurotransmitters, producing euphoria and hallucinations while causing severe long-term health complications that can prove fatal.
Investigators are now working to identify the source of the seized ephedrine and trace other members of the trafficking network. Further investigation into the case is underway.
The NCB said the successful operation highlights its continued efforts to dismantle organised drug syndicates and curb the illegal narcotics trade. Reaffirming its commitment to the vision of a "Nasha Mukt Bharat by 2047", the Bureau also appealed to citizens to report drug-related information through the MANAS National Narcotics Helpline (Toll-Free: 1933), assuring that the identity of informants will be kept strictly confidential.
