Rs 500 crore worth cocaine seized in Navi Mumbai from Kerala smuggler

In a major drugs bust, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 50.23 kg of high-quality cocaine worth over Rs 500 crore that was hidden in a container carrying imported pears and apples that arrived at the Nhava Sheva port in Navi Mumbai.

According to sources, the DRI had received specific intelligence on October 6 regarding the cocaine consignment and intercepted the container carrying pears and green apples that were being imported from South Africa.

Upon examination of the consignment, it was revealed that a large number of bricks made up of high-quality cocaine and weighing about 1 kg each, were concealed inside the boxes of green apples. A total of 50 such bricks weighing 50.23 kg.  valued at Rs 502 crore were recovered during the raid.

A case has been registered against Vijin Varghese from Kerala for the drugs consignment that  arrived from South Africa. This is the second big drug seizure of the same smuggler within a fortnight after  a consignment of contraband drugs that were found concealed in boxes of imported oranges from Africa last week.

“This is one of the largest seizures of cocaine attempted to be smuggled through a sea container in the recent past. The importer has been arrested under the provisions of NDPS Act, 1985,” the DRI said.