NCB Mumbai seizes contraband items worth Rs 135 crore, arrests 9 persons

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 13 : The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Mumbai has seized contraband items worth Rs 135 crore and arrested nine persons, including three foreigners, in separate incidents, officials said on Friday.
As per NCB Mumbai, a total of 6.959 kg of cocaine and 199.25 kg of alprazolam worth Rs 135 crore was seized during the raids.
In the first incident, based on credible inputs, a Khargar, Navi Mumbai-based Nigerian network was identified which was reported to have received a consignment of cocaine scheduled for distribution.
"Accordingly enhanced sources were utilized which led to tracking of a Nigerian person named Paul Ikenna alias Bossman and on September 2, 2023, Ikenna was intercepted at his home at Khargar, Distt-Navi Mumbai and during a house search, a total of 1.959 kgs Cocaine was seized," officials said, adding that after the arrest of the Nigerian national, two Surat, Gujarat based persons named Sakir and Sufiyan were arrested in follow up actions.
"During the investigation, one landlord from Mira Road was arrested for facilitating illegal shelter of Paul. A bank manager was also arrested for facilitating the laundering of drug money. Paul Ikenna has been in the drug business for a very long time and habitual offender. He was previously arrested by NCB-MZU in 1989 in a 4 kg Heroin case, and in 2001 he was arrested in 11 kg Heroin case (he was convicted in this case). He was also involved in the NCB-Bengaluru case booked in January 2023," NCB said in a statement.
"Further, incriminating details were extracted along with the identification of a larger network. In-depth investigation to trace out other crucial members and order mechanism is underway," it added.
In another operation, based on specific input, a Bolivian lady named Evelina Alvarez was identified who flew from Sao Paolo to Mumbai via Dubai by Etihad Airlines on October 12, 2023. Evelina went to a pre-booked hotel for a stay in Khetwadi, Mumbai.
"NCB-Mumbai team reached that hotel and apprehended her along with another lady namely Gloria Ilorca C, a Bolivian national who was present in the hotel. When a search of the belongings was made, 2.180 kgs Cocaine was recovered from the baggage of Evelina while another 2.820 kgs cocaine was recovered from the baggage of Gloria," officials said, adding that further investigation in both matters is underway.
In another incident, based on credible input and prolonged field surveillance, the NCB-Mumbai team intercepted one vehicle on October 6, 2023, near KanhurMesai, Tal-Shirur, Distt-Pune. On close examination of the contents of the vehicle, suspicious powder and some lab equipment were noticed. On spot interrogation of the person in the vehicle, it was found that there was a factory shed in a nearby area (Midagulwadi, Tal-Shirur). On verification, it was found that there is a systematic and sophisticated clandestine lab in the said factory shed. On examination of this clandestine lab, 173.35 kgs of Alprazolam was found along with a huge stock of raw material required for alprazolam manufacturing. The clandestine lab contained state-of-the-art equipment, reactors, generators, driers etc."
The person was apprehended and immediately subject to questioning, which led to the revelation of another factory shed near Narayangaon, Tal-Ambegaon, Distt-Pune. On close verification of the shed, it was found that it was also a clandestine lab. In this lab, 25.95 kgs of Alprazolam was found along with a huge stock of raw materials required for alprazolam manufacturing. The clandestine lab contained state-of-the-art equipment, reactors, generators, driers etc. Both the clandestine labs were built in inaccessible areas where it was difficult to reach by vehicle, to hide from the general public, they said.
"In this case, one person who went for sale of illegally manufactured alprazolam was caught at Hyderabad. It was also found that both these clandestine labs were run by the same drug syndicate. The illegal alprazolam manufactured was sold in Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, especially for making illegal Todi. The key members of the syndicate were identified and further investigation is in progress," NCB officials added.