The CBI on Thursday carried out a massive countrywide crackdown on narcotics networks in coordination with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Interpol and police in multiple States. The searches led to the arrest of 175 alleged drug peddlers and seizure of drugs.
The CBI carried out the raids as part of ‘Operation Garuda’ which started earlier this week to “disrupt, degrade and dismantle” drug networks with international linkages, the CBI said in a statement.
The global operation was planned through a “rapid exchange” of Intelligence on narco-trafficking and coordinated actions with enforcement agencies across international jurisdictions through Interpol, the CBI said.
The police of eight States and Union Territories, including Punjab, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Maharashtra, and the NCB tracked around 6,600 suspects during the operation. The agencies filed 127 FIRs and arrested 175 people, including six absconders and proclaimed offenders, the CBI said.
The agencies targeted smuggling of illicit drugs and psychotropic substances, with a special focus on the Indian Ocean Region, the statement said.
“Drug trafficking networks with international linkages require law enforcement cooperation across international jurisdiction.
Operation Garuda, CBI-led global operation, seeks to target drug networks with international footprints for action against handlers, operatives, production zones and support elements,” it said.
The CBI and NCB worked with intelligence agencies and police of different States for information exchange, analysis and operational information, they said.
“Illicit drugs and psychotropic substances, including 5.125 kg heroin; 33.936 kg ganja; 3.29 kg charas; 1,365 gm Mephedrone; 33.80 gm of smack; around 87 tablets, 122 injections and 87 syringes of Buprenorphine; 946 Alprazolam tablets; 105.997 kg Tramadol; 10 gm hash oil; 0.9 gm Ecstacy pills, 1.150 kg opium, 30 kg poppy husk; 1.437 kg intoxicant powder and 11,039 pills/capsules were recovered,” the agency added in its statement.
