Two key members of an international ‘fighter drug’ smuggling gang have been arrested in Kochi. The men, Umesh Kumar from Thiruvananthapuram and Firdous from Malappuram, were part of a racket that tried to smuggle 30,000 kg of Tramadol Hydrochloride tablets, which amounts to 12 crore pills.
Kochi: Two main players in an international ‘fighter drug’ smuggling ring are now in police custody. The accused, Umesh Kumar, a Thiruvananthapuram native, and Firdous, from Malappuram, were arrested in Kochi. They are believed to be key links in a gang that attempted to smuggle a massive 30,000 kg of Tramadol Hydrochloride pills, which is about 12 crore tablets. The arrests were made as part of ‘Operation Vajra’, an initiative by the Central Bureau of Narcotics.
Ganja Seizure: Fish Seller’s ‘Secret Night Menu’ Sparks Shock in Kerala!
The duo, who are considered major links in the network, were caught from Edappally yesterday. The main shipment of drugs was seized from a godown in Delhi. The pills were reportedly meant to be smuggled to Libya. In a related development, another member of the same gang has been taken into custody in Bengaluru. The Kochi arrests were carried out by officials from the Customs Preventive wing.
Tramadol is a controlled painkiller, but high-potency versions of it are often used as a narcotic in conflict zones, earning it the name ‘fighter drug’. The black market value of the seized shipment is estimated to be over a staggering ₹1000 crore.
Kerala: Massive Drug Crackdown in Pathanamthitta Sparks Attention! Read Details