The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) busted an international drugs trafficking network by arresting three people and seizing 50 kg of narcotics-making chemical that was being sent to Australia and New Zealand by concealing it in food powder and desiccated coconut, the agency said on Saturday.
A joint team of NCB and the special cell of Delhi Police busted the network acting on information provided by Australian and New Zealand authorities about four months back saying “large quantities” of pseudoephedrine concealed in desiccated coconut powder were being sent to both countries from India, NCB Deputy Director General (DDG) Gyaneshwar Singh said in a statement.
Another input from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) indicated that the source of these consignments was Delhi, he added.
The NCB and special cell officials raided a godown located in the Basai Darapur area of West Delhi on February 15 leading to the seizure of 50 kg of pseudoephedrine that was being concealed in a consignment of multi-grain food mix, and apprehension of three people hailing from Tamil Nadu, Singh noted.
“The mastermind of the nexus has been identified as a Tamil film producer, who is on the run. Efforts are being made to nab him so that the source of pseudoephedrine can be ascertained,” the DDG said.
What is Pseudoephedrine?
Pseudoephedrine is a precursor chemical used to make methamphetamine, also known as meth which sells for about Rs 1.5 crore per kg in Australia and New Zealand, according to the NCB.
The arrested accused told the NCB that a total of 45 consignments containing about 3,500 kg of pseudoephedrine valued at more than Rs 2,000 crore in the international market were sent by them over the last three years.
Illegal possession and trade of pseudoephedrine is punishable by up to 10 years of imprisonment under the NDPS Act.
(With PTI inputs)
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