Around 2,500 kg of methamphetamine worth around Rs 12,000 cr in Indian waters seized by NCB, Navy

Tags: State News

A total of 2,500 kg of methamphetamine worth about Rs 12,000 crore was seized from a vessel by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Indian Navy in a joint operation in Indian waters off the coast of Kerala.

An Overview of the News

• The seized methamphetamine is believed to be the biggest ever of its kind in India.

• In this, maritime drug smuggling originating from Afghanistan was targeted.

• This is the third major seizure of NCB in drug smuggling through the southern route in the last year and a half.

• Recent shipments of methamphetamine from Afghanistan were to India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

• The drugs were transported on a "mother ship" that distributes narcotics to various boats along the Makran coast.

'Operation Samudragupt'

• A total of 3,200 kg of methamphetamine, 500 kg of heroin and 529 kg of hashish have been seized so far as part of Operation Samudragupt.

• Previous seizures as part of Operation Samudragupt include the seizure of 529 kg of hashish, 221 kg of methamphetamine and 13 kg of heroin off the coast of Gujarat in February 2022.

• In October 2022, an Iranian boat was intercepted off the coast of Kerala, resulting in the seizure of 200 kg of high-grade heroin and the arrest of six Iranian drug smugglers.

Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB):

• It is a respected central law enforcement and intelligence agency operating in India.

• It functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs, which is a part of the Government of India, and is responsible for maintaining law and order in the country.

• One of the primary objectives of the NCB is to combat drug trafficking and use of illegal substances within Indian territory.

• The agency functions in accordance with the provisions laid down in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, which is an important legislation to regulate and control drug-related offences.

Formation - 17 March 1986

Headquarters - New Delhi