NEW DELHI: In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has seized high-grade cocaine worth over ₹100 crore, along with cannabis gummies and hydroponic ganja, in one of the largest drug busts in recent times. The operation dealt a severe blow to an international drug cartel operating in India.
The successful raid drew praise from Home Minister Amit Shah, who posted on X: “Bharat crushes drug cartels with zero tolerance. A major breakthrough in Mumbai in seizing very high-grade cocaine, ganja, and cannabis and arresting four people. This success reaffirms the top-to-bottom approach to investigation in realizing PM Modi’s vision of a drug-free India. Congratulations to NCB on this massive success.”
The operation was the result of an extensive investigation that began with the seizure of a small 200g cocaine parcel in Mumbai last month. According to NCB, the initial recovery was made at a courier agency, where the parcel was destined for Australia. Using a combination of technical surveillance and human intelligence, NCB Mumbai zonal unit was able to trace the supply chain back to a larger consignment hidden in Navi Mumbai.
The probe revealed that the drug syndicate is controlled by operatives based abroad. Some of the seized narcotics were sourced from the US and distributed to multiple recipients in India and overseas through courier services, small cargo shipments, and human carriers. The traffickers used pseudonyms and remained anonymous to each other, ensuring secrecy in their dealings, NCB added.
Four individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, and further investigations are underway to dismantle the network.
