Delhi: 6 Afghan-Nigerian nationals arrested, heroin worth over Rs 30 cr seized

The NCB on Friday arrested six foreigners with narcotics worth Rs 30 crore in Delhi. According to a press release by the NCB, they were part of an international drug smuggling syndicate.

New Delhi (India):The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized Afghan Heroin worth more than Rs 30 crore and arrested six persons who were part of an international drug smuggling syndicate, according to a press release by the agency today.

"Sustained operation by Narcotics Control Bureau against drug menace with special emphasis on international drug syndicates has further achieved breakthrough resulting in busting an Afghan-Nigerian Heroin cartel which was being operated in New Delhi area," the release read.

The NCB acted on a tip-off from a reliable source, which gave the input that one suspect Afghan national was coming to New Delhi from Kandahar, following which security was beefed up at the international airport.

"The alert NCB team also marked two more Afghan nationals whose movements were found suspicious. Though a search of their belongings yielded no contraband, but when they were subjected to medical examination, presence of foreign substance was revealed in their stomach. The three suspects were admitted to hospital and under medical supervision, a total of 253 pellets containing Afghan Heroin were recovered. The total weight of Heroin was found to be 1.8 kgs," according to the release.

In the follow-up action, the NCB team apprehended one more Afghan national who was supposed to receive the consignment of heroin from the passengers.

Upon questioning the accused gave up some clues which led to the arrest of a Nigerian national from Vasant Kunj area and a search of his house led to the recovery of 6.02 kilograms of heroin. The team also arrested another Nigerian national with 488 grams of heroin from the Uttam Nagar area.

"The street value in the International drug market of the total seized contraband is more than Rs 30 crores," the release read.

"This successful operation is a result of increased focus of NCB on international drug networks, especially the Afghan heroin supply network, who are working in collaboration with Nigerian drug traffickers," the release added.

The release added that India is a "transit country" for passing the drugs to other countries apart from being a market and therefore the syndicates are ceaselessly trying to smuggle heroin to India.

"Further investigation in coordination with foreign authorities is being conducted to identify other persons involved in the illicit drug syndicate," the release added.