Officials from the Special Intelligence Unit of the Mundra Customs Department have seized banned tablets and four containers filled with prohibited drugs worth approximately Rs 110 crore.
According to details made available on Monday, in late July, seven containers were exported to South Africa by a Rajkot-based merchant. However, three containers containing prohibited tablets worth Rs 100 crore were seized after officials of the special intelligence unit of Mundra Customs got the information.
During the ongoing investigation, it was discovered that four additional containers had earlier been shipped to South Africa. The customs department contacted the port in South Africa and informed them in writing to send back the four containers. Customs officials have since seized these containers, uncovering banned tablets worth Rs 68 lakh, with an estimated international market value of Rs 110 crore.
So far about Rs 210 crores worth of prohibited drugs have been seized by the customs department. Customs officials were initially unaware of the checkpoints connected to these containers. The investigation is still in progress, with additional incriminating documents seized in Gandhidham, Rajkot, Gandhinagar, and Baroda.
These banned tablets, classified under the Narcotics Act, were misrepresented as other drugs in export declarations. Reports suggest that these drugs are used by commandos in South Africa to enhance fitness and endurance, and even terrorist organizations use these drugs too.
There is growing concern that prohibited drugs valued at approximately Rs 500 crore may have already reached South Africa. The investigation is focusing on determining the recipients of these drugs in South Africa and uncovering any related payment schemes, with potential links to a hawala scam.
Currently, no arrests have been made in connection with this investigation, though arrests are expected in future. In a related matter, earlier this year, customs authorities seized banned grapes valued at Rs 1,000 crore from Mundra. Despite this, trucks are reportedly still active, continuing to export the grapes to other countries by sea.
