International drug trade busted after 349kg cocaine worth Rs 1,745 crore seized from warehouses in Mumbai

MUMBAI: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted a transnational drug supply syndicate with the seizure of 349kg of high-grade cocaine, valued at Rs 1,745 crore in the illicit market, following coordinated raids in warehouses in the Kalamboli–Bhiwandi corridor. The drugs were brought into India by secreting packets into cavities inside imported machinery. In one warehouse, it was found stuffed into cricket pads and gloves, raising questions about whether this was how it was being distributed inside the country.The NCB said its ‘Operation White Strike' followed over six months of sustained intelligence gathering, surveillance, and inter-agency coordination. Officials didn't identify the country of origin of the drug, but said the scale of the seizure is significant as India typically records annual cocaine seizures of 200–300kg."We are resolved to ruthlessly crush the narcotics cartel. This is a trailblazing example of bottom to top approach where the agency traced back a smaller consignment to net a massive network," Union home minister Amit Shah tweeted. Acting on specific and credible inputs, multiple teams launched coordinated strikes in the Kalamboli–Bhiwandi corridor across Navi Mumbai and Thane districts, exposing a highly organised transnational drug supply network using warehouse infrastructure and concealed transport mechanisms, a press release issued by PIB said.The first seizure took place near KWC Warehousing Complex in Kalamboli, where officials intercepted a car and recovered 136kg of cocaine concealed inside cricket pads and gloves packed in cartons. Officials arrested the driver. Based on his interrogation, officials traced a larger consignment to a warehouse in Laxman Compound in Rehnal village, Bhiwandi. A raid led to the recovery of an additional 213kg of cocaine, taking the total seizure to 349kg. Officials said the contraband was concealed within the inner cavities of imported machinery, with each packet wrapped in nine layers of polyethylene, including a black greasy coating to evade detection.Investigators suspect the syndicate used Kalamboli–Bhiwandi's warehousing network for storage and distribution. A team of NCB Delhi and Mumbai is continuing with the raids and searches at several places even as further investigation is underway to identify the masterminds, financiers, and distribution network linked to the syndicate.