In a major haul, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Saturday said it has seized around 2,500 kg high purity methamphetamine valued at Rs 12,000 crore in the Indian water, and detained a suspected Pakistani national in this connection.
It was a joint operation between the Indian Navy and the NCB officials.
According to the NCB, the Indian authorities were on alert after receiving a tip-off, and based on that input, a vessel was identified and was intercepted by the Indian Navy.
The suspected Pakistani national was nabbed after intercepting a "mother ship" transporting drugs, as part of "Operation Samudragupt" which aims to combat maritime trafficking of drugs originating from Afghanistan.
This marks the third significant seizure by the NCB in the past 18 months regarding the trafficking of drugs through the southern route.
According to NCB, in view of the threat to national security emanating from maritime trafficking of heroin and other drugs over the maritime route in the Indian Ocean region, Director General, NCB had launched Operation Samudragupt headed by Sanjay Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Ops) in January, 2022.
An official said that continuous intelligence collection and analysis resulted in identification of a highly probable route that the mother ship would take for distribution of contraband.
The information was shared with the Indian Navy and an Indian Naval Ship was deployed in the vicinity. Based on this input, a large sea going vessel was intercepted by the Navy.
"A total of 134 sacks of suspected methamphetamine was recovered from the ship and one person is suspected to be a Pakistani national was detained, who was on a speed boat and contraband was loaded on it," said the official.
The recovered sacks, the Pakistani national, along with the speed boat and some other items salvaged from the "mother ship" were brought to Mattancherry Wharf, Kochi, and handed over to NCB for further action.
BTVM welcomes tiny tot to new academic session
The Bhavans Tripura Vidya Mandir welcomed the tiny tots to the new academic year of the school curricula and held an initiation programme on May 1 last.
TRIPURA: Restriction imposed on sale of petrol, diesel as landslide hits Assam
As a massive landslide at Jatinga in Assam has hit the goods train movement to Tripura, the Tripura has imposed restrictions on sale of petrol and diesel.
Women perform rituals in Kali temple for rain amid heat wave
Amid the intense heat wave, the BJP MLA Antara Deb Sarkar, accompanied by hundreds of women on Wednesday performed rituals at a Kali temple in Sepahijala's Kamalasagar, seeking divine intervention for rains.
Hours after praising BJP nominee, Kunal Ghosh removed as Trinamool state General Secretary
Hours after Trinamool Congress’ state General Secretary Kunal Ghosh showered praises on Tapas Roy, the BJP candidate from Kolkata Uttar Lok Sabha constituency, the ruling party on Wednesday removed Ghosh from the post.
Salman Khan firing case: Accused gun supplier found hanging in Mumbai police lockup, declared dead
In a sensational development, Anuj Thapan, one of the prime accused in the firing at Salman Khan’s home, allegedly committed suicide in a Mumbai Police lockup on Wednesday, officials said.
Secretary of Tripura's prominent club shot dead, one arrested
Durga Prasanna Deb, Secretary of Bharat Ratna Sangha, a leading club and famous social body of Tripura was attacked by five assailants late Tuesday at Usha Bazar. The accused who has been nabbed was identified as Pradyut Dhar Chowdhury.
GST collections scale record high of Rs 2.1 lakh crore in April
The country's gross GST revenue collection for April this year soared to the highest ever level at Rs 2.10 lakh crore, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Wednesday.
Govt cuts windfall tax on crude oil, ONGC, OIL India Ltd to gain
The Government has cut the windfall tax on crude oil to Rs 8,400 a metric ton from Rs 9,600 with effect from Wednesday as part of its fortnightly revision.