Drugs worth Rs 538 crore destroyed by Mumbai Customs

Mumbai Customs destroyed drugs weighing 140.57 kgs today at the incineration facility of Mumbai Waste Management Limited (MWML) located at Taloja in Navi Mumbai. The contraband seized from drug traffickers were valued at Rs. 538 crore in the international market.

Providing details of the seizure, Principal Commissioner, Customs Zone III, Rajesh Sanan stated that the drugs destroyed were seized recently by three commissionerates under Zone III which include the airport and the air cargo complex.

The drugs that were destroyed included 56.06 kg Heroin and 33.81 Kg Hashish seized by the Mumbai Airport Commissionerate in 14 cases and 21.70 kg Hashish seized in a case booked at the Air Cargo Export Commissionerate

Another 29 kg heroin that was seized in a case by DRI was also part of the drug pile destroyed today by the Customs authorities.

According to Customs officials, drug seizure data at the Mumbai International Airport shows that the drugs smuggling is done predominantly by nationals from countries like Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.  Drug smuggling is undertaken by concealing the drugs in special false cavities made in baggage. Carriers have been found carrying drugs in ingested in the human body as well. Mumbai Airport Customs has effectively used sniffer dogs for detecting cases.

Incineration of such seized items which are hazardous to nature if released otherwise are required to be done in incinerators fitted with Standardized Pollution Control Devices.

The contraband items were brought into the country under various forms of disguise, but were proactively seized or confiscated by the Customs Department.