ED files PMLA case in 3,000 kg drug seizure at Mundra port

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case in a drug trafficking case where 2,988.22 kg of heroin was seized at Mundra port in Gujarat.

New Delhi:The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case in a drug trafficking case where 2,988.22 kg of heroin was seized at Mundra port in Gujarat.

In this case, two people were arrested and the role of some Afghanistan nationals are being investigated.

A top government official said that Enforcement Directorate has registered a money laundering case under various sections of Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002.

In what is said to be one of the largest ever drugs seizures in the world, the entire operation was carried out by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) which resulted in seizures of two containers carrying about 2,988.22 kg of heroin at Mundra port in Gujarat.

A senior officer in the DRI stated that specific Intelligence was developed by them that a consignment imported by Aashi Trading Company, Vijaywada declared as semi-processed Talc stones originating from Afghanistan and shipped from Bandar Abbas Port, Iran to Mundra Port, Gujarat is suspected to contain Narcotics drugs.

Intelligence indicated that these drugs have originated from Afghanistan.

Accordingly, officers of DRI detained the consignment -- two containers, 40 tonnes -- for examination under the provisions of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic substance Act (hereinafter referred to as NDPS), 1985.

Read: Adani takes on Ambani, to invest $20 bn in renewable energy; make foray into hydrogen

The examination was conducted in presence of experts from Forensic Science Lab, Gandhinagar.

During the examination, suspected narcotics drugs were recovered from both containers. FSL conducted tests and confirmed the presence of Heroin.

"Accordingly, 1,999.579 kg recovered from the first container and 988.64 kg recovered from the second container totaling 2,988.219 kg were seized under the provisions of NDPS Act, 1985," DRI stated.

Searches have been conducted in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Chennai, Gandhidham and Mandvi in Gujarat.

Two persons have been arrested and a number of persons and entities are under investigation, said DRI in a statement adding that investigation conducted so far has also revealed the involvement of Afghan Nationals.

Read: Adani gets CCI nod to buy 10.4% equity in Gangavaram Port

IANS