Pramesh S Jain
NCB officials of Bangalore Zonal Unit arrested four persons including two Nigerian nationals part of the international drug racket.The officials seized 6.870 kg of Pseudoephedrine from two parcels from Amrutahalli,Bangalore.
NCB sources said that Shukla and Maria were mules for the kingpins, two Nigerian nationals B Onovo and C Okwor. After surveilling the two men, the NCB officials arrested them on Monday.
Based on intelligence inputs on November 11,NCB officials under the guidance of Amit Ghawate,zonal director of Bengaluru,raided a courier outlet in Amruthahalli and seized the parcel.The drug,Pseudoephedrine,was concealed in baby bags.
The preliminary investigation revealed the parcels were destined to two different consignees at South Africa.
Further, through continued enforcement efforts including multiple field surveillance,on 18.11.2020,the consignor D.Shukla and G.Maria residents of Bangalore were caught.
Based on their information the officials track down two Nigerian National namely,B.Onovo and C.Okwor,residing in Bangalore were caught and arrested subsequently, Amit Ghawate, (Zonal Director,Bangalore) said.
Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are controlled substances,which are sold exclusively to drug manufacturing companies.These chemicals are intermediary drugs,used for the manufacture of detergents,perfumes,dyes etc.
However, pseudoephedrine can be diverted and used for the manufacture of amphetamine-type stimulants like MDMA, also known as ecstasy, which have hallucinogenic properties.
NCB said that the past seizures of controlled substances like ephedrine and pseudoephedrine were mostly being shipped to South East Asian countries and that the traffickers are now mostly transporting them to South African countries.Of late,it has been found that these controlled substances are also being illegally exported to African destinations,especially South Africa,where the possibility of clandestine production of ATS cannot be ruled out,the NCB said in a press note.
