The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Friday claimed to have arrested 19 people, including foreigners, and seized more than 220 kilogram (kg) of drugs from them in the last fortnight as part of its drive against illegal narcotics trade and traffickers across the country.
According to a senior NCB official, these interdictions are result of an increased effort put by the agency against drug trafficking. "The concerted and coordinated efforts led to a total seizure of 221.29 kg of drugs that includes 13.25 kg opium, 2.09 kg cocaine, 10.10 kg hashish, 182.6 kg ganja and 13.25 kg heroin," said the senior NCB official.
"The NCB have arrested a total of 19 drug traffickers, including 11 Indians and eight foreigners during the first fortnight of August in various operations conducted across the country," said the official.
"The operations were undertaken as part of security step up undertaken in the wake of Independence Day celebrations," the official added.
In an operation conducted in Mumbai on August 2, the NCB seized 2.09 kg cocaine at the airport and arrested a man from Suriname, South Africa.
NCB officials said the drug originated from Suriname and was destined to Mumbai via the Ethiopian capital city of Addis Ababa.
In another incident, the federal anti-narcotics agency seized 2.7 kg opium, 6.14 kg heroin from various parts of Punjab like Ludhiana, Amritsar and Ferozepur.