Heroin camouflaged as 'ayurvedic' medicine seized in Mumbai

191 kg of heroin worth Rs 1,000 crore was seized by Mumbai customs and Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) today. The narcotic, stated to be of high-grade quality, was concealed in plastic pipes painted in bamboo colour.

Mumbai: In one of the biggest narcotics haul in Mumbai, the customs and Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have seized 191 kg of heroin worth around Rs 1,000 crore from a cargo container at Nhava Sheva Port Trust, officials said on Monday.

The seizure of the drugs, being declared as 'ayurvedic medicine' -- believed to have originated from Afghanistan -- was made late on Saturday.

Two customs clearing house agents who attempted to get it cleared through the customs have been arrested and sent to police custody for 14 days.

Mumbai Customs, DRI seizes heroin camouflaged as 'ayurvedic' medicine

The narcotic, stated to be of high-grade quality, was concealed in plastic pipes painted in bamboo colour and sought to be passed off as traditional common medicine, said the officials.

Further probe is underway into the source of the supply, the modus operandi and whether the same method had been tried before to evade enforcement agencies.

(with inputs from agency)