Afghan Heroin Worth Rs 20,900 Cr That Was Disguised As 'Talcum Powder' Seized From Gujarat Port

In what is said to be one of the largest ever seizures in the world, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has impounded two containers carrying about 2,988.22kg of heroin valued at around Rs 20,900 crore at Mundra port in Gujarat. Two persons have been arrested and the role of some Afghan nationals is also being investigated.

How did it get busted?

The breakthrough came after the agency received a specific tip-off about a consignment imported by Aashi Trading Company, located in Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, declared as semi-processed Talc stones originating from Afghanistan and shipped from Bandar Abbas Port in Iran to Mundra Port.

The Vijayawada link in the whole thing came to light as the 'talcum powder' consignment was imported by Aashi Trading company, the address of which is the nondescript yellow-coloured house located on an isolated corner of a street in Satyanarayanapuram area of the city.

TOI

Who is behind the consignment?

The place was found to be rented in the name of the trading company by a woman from Chennai, identified as Govindaraju Durga Purna Vaishali. DRI sources said the company¡¯s contact number is linked to one Machavaram Sudhakar, who is the husband of Vaishali and a native of AP¡¯s Kakinada.

The import and export licence (IEC code) of the company is in the name of Vaishali, while its GST registration was done on August 18, 2020. The couple has been staying in Chennai for the past eight years in a rented apartment in Kolapakam area of the city.

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In the presence of experts from the Gandhinagar-based Forensic Science Laboratory, the containers were searched. The experts checked the contents and confirmed the presence of heroin, according to an agency source.

While 1,999.58 kg was recovered from the first container, 988.64 kg of the stuff was found in second container, taking the total to about 2,988.22 kgs. The huge contraband was seized under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

What have the police said?

Sources said Vaishali has been taken into custody by DRI, who is suspected to be the prime accused, is on the run. Vijayawada police commissioner B Sreenivasulu told TOI that the consignment was actually headed to Delhi.

"The heroin in the guise of talcum powder was intended to reach Delhi, not Vijayawada. So far, we have found no proof of any Vijayawada connection in the whole thing except the importing company¡¯s address. We are in coordinating with the DRI and investigating the case from all angles,¡± he said, adding that Aashi Trading seems to have been used as a shell company to obtain import and export licence for illegal smuggling.

Reuters

Barring the name and GST registeration number of the firm, which was found to be typed on an A4 sheet paper and pasted on the wall of the house, there's nothing in the vicinity to suggest that a company operates from there.

People living in the neighbourhood said the place has remained shut since many months. However, prior to that, they do acknowledge that they have seen consignments being dropped and picked up from the place.

¡°We were told by a caretaker of the place once that the company deals with food essentials such as rice, fruits, vegetables, etc. But the place has remained locked since long,¡± a woman residing in the same neighbourhood said.