New Delhi: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has claimed to have exposed the interstate network under 'Operation Domino' against cocaine smuggling. Kochi zonal unit of NCB took action and arrested seven accused. These include three people and two foreign nationals deported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in drug-related cases. During the operation, a total of 33.1 grams of cocaine, whose estimated value was estimated to be around Rs 16.55 lakh, was recovered.
According to NCB, it had received credible information about people who were sent to India from UAE in drug-related cases. After this the agency started monitoring his activities and his contacts with the network said to be active from Bengaluru to Kerala.
Network route opened from railway station
On September 10, the NCB team stopped Gurpreet Singh, resident of Kapurthala, Punjab, Hamdan Ahmed, resident of Beypore, Kozhikode and Aflah P, resident of Arakkinar, at Farooq railway station in Kozhikode. It was claimed that 8.12 grams of cocaine was recovered from them. Initial inquiry revealed that cocaine was being supplied from Bengaluru. As the investigation progressed, the link of the alleged network reached Siddharth Damor. According to the NCB, he was caught on September 10 while traveling from Thiruvananthapuram to Kozhikode and later arrested. The agency has described him as an emerging DJ associated with the party circuit of Kerala. Information about his association with a resort in Ooty also came to light. Based on interrogation, NCB identified Arun Rajkumar, who works in the IT sector in Bengaluru, as the alleged key facilitator. According to the agency, he used to procure cocaine from foreign nationals and help in distributing it to sellers and consumers.
Foreign connections also came to light
During the investigation, the names of Nigerian national Chizoba Helen Anthony alias Sonia and Zimbabwean national Mufukare Vitalis Tadiswanashe came to light. According to NCB, both were caught from Bengaluru on September 12 and 13 respectively. 16 grams and 8.98 grams of cocaine were recovered from their possession respectively. NCB says that Siddharth Damor, Hamdan Ahmed and Aflah P. had earlier been convicted in drug-related cases in UAE and had served jail sentence. According to the agency, Aflah, Gurpreet and Siddharth came in contact during their jail days and after returning to India, they allegedly tried to strengthen the network.
NCB is now busy identifying and taking action against other contacts associated with this network. NCB is now trying to break the entire smuggling system by investigating the forward and backward links. NCB has appealed to citizens to provide information about drug trafficking. For this, information can be given on Manas National Narcotics Helpline 1933. The identity of the person giving information will be kept confidential.