Three in Kurla held with ₹18L hashish

MUMBAI: A mother-daughter duo and a drug kingpin were arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Kurla for possession of hashish worth ₹18 lakh. According to the NCB, the 49-year-old kingpin was using the 50-year-old woman from Kurla and her 28-year-olddaughtertotransport drugs to the Middle East.

The daughter, a BSC graduate settled in Bahrain, told investigators that her husband is a chartered accountant and that “she was only helping her mother”. The agency has booked the trio under sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

“The kingpin is from Kerala and would hire carriers. The

uniqueness of the case is that the carriers were given drugs to be taken to Gulf countries through the aerial route and they were handed over gold on their return journey,” said an NCB officer privy to the investigation. “The sops granted were free tourism in

the foreign country where the contraband was sent, free hotel accommodation for a few days, and cash remuneration.”

NCB officers stated that the arrested mother was asked by the kingpin to hunt for potential carriers. “The woman is suspected to have sent carriers to Gulf countries around eight to 10 times in the past. The woman and the carrier would both get paid ₹25,000 per job,” said the officer. “The woman claims she thought that this time her daughter could do the job and they would earn ₹50,000. While the kingpin was handing over the drugs and an air ticket for Friday to Qatar, we apprehended them,” said the officer, adding that they seized 1.8kg of hashish.

The NCB is now investigating the daughter for her several foreign visits in the past and their purpose and is on the hunt for other accomplices.

“It is surprising as Gulf countries have harsh drug laws,” said the officer. “The Gulf link about the receivers is also being investigated.”