AMRITSAR: The Indian Custom Department have seized heroin (drug) in large quantity at Indo-Pak Attari border which was smuggled here in India in the Consignment packed from Afghanistan via Pakistan.
Custom official informed that the total quantity of drug was 102 Kgs having value Rs. 700 Crore in the international market was extracted.
In a statement issued here today, Custom official informed that such big case has now been detected by the officers of Amritsar Customs by seizing suspected drugs of 102 kgs concealed in a liqourice roots (Mulethi) consignment imported from Afghanistan by a Delhi based importer.
Official said that the case was detected after the goods were subjected to X-ray scanning as per the prescribed examination procedure. Some irregular spots were seen by the alert duty officer in X-ray images in some of the wooden logs in the consignments.
Therefore, in view of the suspicious images, the Customs officers opened the bags in presence of Panchas and other Customs staff. When all the bags were opened, it was seen that some of the bags had small cylindrical wooden logs (not mulethi), which appeared to be sealed on both ends by saw dust mixed in adhesive material. Such wooden logs were segregated and packed in separate bags. These wooden logs were then broken open revealing machine made cavity in each such log, which was filled with powdery material suspected to be narcotics substance.
Immediately The substance was tested with drugs detection test kit both by the Customs as well as BSF separately and they showed positive results for narcotics material.
The total weight of such wooden logs was about 475 kgs, from which 102 kgs of suspected heroin of estimated value of Rs. 700 Crore in the international market was extracted. Further investigation in the case going on, they said.
Adding further Regular imports of Afghanistan origin items such as dry fruits, fresh fruits and herbs take place via Integrated Check Post (ICP) Attari, under Amritsar Customs (P) Commissionerate. In view of the changed political situation in Afghanistan since August, 2021 and sensitive nature of trade, strict examination is being carried out of all import cargo. Amritsar Customs has booked many cases of concealment of gold and drugs at Airports as well as at Land Customs Station, ICP Attari and is waging a relentless battle against such imports of contrabands.
In this process, in one of the biggest cases in India, approximately 532.630 kgs of drugs were seized at ICP, Attari from imports of Afghanistan in June, 2019. Another such big case has now been detected by the officers of Amritsar Customs by seizing suspected drugs of 102 kgs concealed in a liqourice roots (Mulethi) consignment imported from Afghanistan by a Delhi based importer.