The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Mumbai confiscated 10.990 kg of ephedrine valued at Rs 5 crore hidden in three international courier parcels bound for New Zealand. A key suspect, S. Hameed from Chennai, was apprehended in connection with an alleged international drug trafficking network. The operation was conducted based on specific intelligence inputs received by the NCB’s Mumbai Zonal Unit.
The NCB revealed that it had been monitoring an international ephedrine trafficking syndicate believed to be operating from Chennai. The accused individuals are suspected of using fake identity documents to ship international courier consignments to foreign destinations. To evade law enforcement detection, network members reportedly traveled to various cities, including Mumbai and Pune, to dispatch the parcels.
Following credible intelligence, NCB officers identified and intercepted two suspicious courier parcels in Mumbai on July 21. Upon inspection, the parcels initially appeared to contain floor mats, but a detailed examination uncovered 7 kg of ephedrine concealed between layers of floor mats and cloth rolls. Additionally, officials discovered that the attached documents were forged.
Further investigations led officers to the Triplicane area of Chennai, where they located the suspected handler of the operation. A search of the premises resulted in the arrest of S. Hameed and the recovery of incriminating items such as packing materials, digital weighing machines, heat-sealing machines, plastic bags, forged identity documents, and digital devices.
Hameed was taken into custody on July 23 and subsequently transported to Mumbai for further questioning. During interrogation, the accused provided information about another courier parcel en route to New Zealand. Acting on this information, NCB officials intercepted the parcel in Maharashtra’s Kalyan district on July 25, recovering an additional 3.990 kg of ephedrine concealed within bedsheets and photo frames using a similar method.
