NIA arrests three more accused in Mundra heroin case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested three more accused in the Mundra heroin case, according to a press release issued on Thursday. The accused persons have been identified as Rahmatullah, Ishwinder Singh, and Jasbir Singh, who added the press release.

They were arrested yesterday for their alleged involvement in the smuggling of heroin in large consignments camouflaged in containers of talc stones, bituminous coal, etc. through the maritime route, the agency claimed. So far, one first charge sheet has been submitted against 10 arrested accused persons and six wanted accused persons in the NIA Special Court in Ahmedabad on March 14, 2022. One supplementary charge sheet has also been filed on August 29, 2022, against nine accused persons in the NIA Special Court, Ahmedabad, said the statement. The case pertains to the operations of one of the largest international drug smuggling syndicates, run by the Daad brothers, Hassan Daad and Hussain Daad, both Afghan nationals who are already wanted by the NIA in the Mundra case. 

The duo have smuggled multiple consignments of heroin concealed in apparently innocuous consignments of goods such as semi-processed talc stones and bituminous coal imported into India. These consignments were imported through different Indian ports, including Mundra, Gujarat, and Kolkata, and further moved to New Delhi via trucks.

The investigation has revealed a vast and widespread network of drug traffickers, international facilitators, importers using fake or shell companies, distributors, and local wholesalers and retailers, who are operating a huge international drug smuggling racket from many countries.