Operation ‘Calypso’: DRI busts international cocaine smuggling racket, arrests four

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted an international drug smuggling racket with the seizure of over half a kg of cocaine couriered from Trinidad & Tobago to Mumbai. Four individuals, together with two Nigerian nationals, have been arrested.

Codenamed ‘Calypso’, the operation spanning three days was carried out in Mumbai and Rajasthan’s Udaipur.

The company initially intercepted a courier packet containing a steam iron press, within which 504 gram of cocaine was discovered. The packet, which had been despatched from Trinidad & Tobago to Mumbai, was seized. However, nabbing the meant recipients of the contraband was a significant problem, mentioned an official.

A lure was laid to catch the one that was to get the consignment on November 17 night. A girl turned as much as obtain the packet and was detained.

During questioning, she disclosed that the packet needed to be handed over to a Nigerian nationwide working in Navi Mumbai, the official mentioned.

“Teams were quickly formed and dispatched to the pre-determined delivery area in Navi Mumbai,” mentioned the DRI in a press release, including that the lady was taken alongside.

An elaborate plan was made to keep away from elevating any suspicion whereas zeroing in on the opposite accused. The providers of an App-based taxi had been additionally taken.

The DRI officers in plainclothes waited for the suspect, who got here after about an hour and approached the taxi during which the lady was ready with the consignment.

He tried to take the parcel when he was overpowered by the DRI officers. Another Nigerian nationwide, who was far away in an autorickshaw, tried to flee when he noticed his confederate getting caught.

Hot pursuit

What adopted was a sizzling pursuit throughout which the suspect jumped off the shifting autorickshaw and began working.

After an nearly one-km dramatic chase on foot, in autorickshaw and automotive — throughout a busy and populated suburb of Mumbai — the third accused was additionally nabbed.

The company then recognized one other Mumbai-based lady who was a part of the racket and was “holidaying” in Udaipur.

Another DRI crew from Ahmedabad unit reached Udaipur within the lifeless of the evening and, after some legwork, tracked down the accused to a lodge.

The officers stored a detailed watch all through evening and on November 18 morning, arrested her with the assistance of Udaipur Police. She was delivered to Mumbai on transit demand.

A history-sheeter, the accused had been arrested by the Mumbai Police final yr. The different lady accused additionally has a legal background. The two had met one another in jail.

Investigations have revealed that the syndicate had cleared a number of consignments of cocaine prior to now. About 3.30 kg of the stuff value over ₹20 crore had been smuggled in utilizing the identical modus operandi since August.