As Indian authorities continue its war on drugs, Lehengas used to hide drugs worth crores of Rupees in Bengaluru were seized. The lehengas were supposed to be sent to Australia, according to reports. The drugs were seized by the officials of anti-narcotics agency Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). The drugs weighed in 3 kilograms and so far, one person has already been arrested by the officials involved in the matter.
The news comes after several other reports of drug agencies seizing drugs in the country. Earlier in September, over 3000 kilograms of heroin, amounting to about Rs. 21,000 crores, was seized from Gujarat’s Mundra port.
Background
Drugs in India – the three words are enough for one to have visuals of celebrity kids, narcotics officials, and large boxes filled with white powder in their minds. According to NCB data that was quoted by news agency ThePrint, the anti-drug enforcement agencies in India seized as much as 3,040 kgs of heroin, 4,30,264 kgs of poppy straw, 3,35,052 kgs of ganja and hundreds of kilograms of other chemical ingredients to produce drugs. The data mentioned above is for January 2021 to July 2021.
Meanwhile, the country also witnessed the biggest drug haul that’s ever been reported earlier last month. This has led people and enforcement agencies take the issue of drug abuse more seriously than ever before.
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The Facts of the Matter
We have all heard the song ‘Choli Ke Piche Kya Hai’, but how many of us have heard ‘Lehenge Ke Andar Kya Hai’? Personnel from NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau) got the answer to the same when it found about 3 kilograms of drugs worth crores of rupees. The NCB officials in Bengaluru acted on a tip-off and seized a consignment containing lehengas used to hide drugs.
According to reports, the consignment was supposed to be sent to Australia. The NCB officials in Bengaluru formed a team after receiving a tip-off. This team was led by Amit Ghawte, NCB Bengaluru Zonal Director. The team intercepted the consignment before it could be shipped off.
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What Drugs Were Hidden in the Lehengas?
From the Australia-bound shipment, the NCB officials found and seized about 3 kilograms of pseudoephedrine. For the unversed, pseudoephedrine is a sympathomimetic drug which can be used to make methamphetamines. The drugs were placed between the fold of the lehenga fold line.
Preliminary reports confirm that the shipment was sent from Andhra Pradesh’s Narasapuram and was later received by a Chennai based consignor. Reportedly, the NCB Bengaluru worked in tandem with NCB Chennai who caught the parcel sender.
Not the First time Lehengas Used to Conceal Drugs
It should be noted that this is not the first time lehengas were used to hide and transport drugs. Earlier this year in February, the Delhi customs had seized another consignment with lehengas concealing drugs with a street price of Rs. 1.7 crores.
Incidentally, the lehengas were to be sent to Australia. After the seizure the anti-drugs agency found about 3,920 grams of MDMA. The drugs were hidden within the work that’s adorned on every piece of the ethnic wear.
Drugs Worth Rs. 1.7 Crores Hidden in Lehenga Work
Taking to Twitter, Delhi Customs wrote, “ACC Export Commissionerate at FPO, New Delhi seized 3920 gms of MDMA from 1 parcel destined for Australia. MDMA was concealed between the golden lace of the lehngas. Estimated street price is around Rs. 1.7 crores.”
ACC Export Commissionerate at FPO, New Delhi seized 3920 gms of MDMA from 1 parcel destined for Australia. MDMA was concealed between the golden lace of the lehngas. Estimated street price is around Rs. 1.7 crores.#IndianCustomsAtWork pic.twitter.com/gOQu2PVUQy
— Delhi Customs (@Delhicustoms) February 9, 2021
The Adani Port Drug Haul Case
On September 13, 2021, the anti-drug agency had its biggest ever recorded drug haul. The agency seized around 3,000 kilograms of heroin from Gujarat’s Mundra port that’s run by Gautam Adani’s Adani Group. Reportedly, the drugs had arrived from Afghanistan.
After the haul, the Adani Ports issued a statement claiming its terminals will not handle cargo from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran from November 15 till further notice.
