Afghan-based syndicate behind Mundra drug haul: Intel officials

NEW DELHI : Central intelligence agencies have identified a Kandahar-based drugs syndicate behind the 3,000kg heroin consignment worth ₹21,000 crore that was seized at Gujarat’s Mundra port last week, according to people aware of the developments.

The syndicate has links with another smuggling network based in Iran and their association with the Taliban and Pakistan is being further investigated, said an official who deals with narco-terrorism. The official, who asked not to be named, refused to divulge the name of the syndicate in view of the confidential nature of the probe.

Eight people, an Uzbek woman, four Afghan nationals based in Delhi and Noida, a Chennai couple whose firm Aashi Trading Company was used to import the talc and another Indian national, have been arrested so far in the case.

At least 10kg cocaine and 16kg more heroin worth several crores has been recovered from the Afghan nationals, who officials say are mostly distributors and couriers.

The agencies are also exploring whether there is a link between the Mundra drug haul and the recovery of around 298kg high-quality heroin from some containers in July at Navi Mumbai’s Nhava Sheva Port, which also came via the same route – Afghanistan to Iran’s Bandar Abbas Port and then India.

A second official, also an expert in narco-terrorism, said the role of the Taliban and Pakistan in the largest-ever consignment seized in India is not ruled out considering a huge stock of opium/heroin lying with drug traffickers in Afghanistan due to the last six months of turmoil. Indian intelligence agencies have repeatedly said that Pakistan has used the Afghan drugs to destabilise the Indian economy.