Caught at airport: NRI ferrying 100 kg of drugs to Mexico

Officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested a Canada-based non-resident Indian and a clearing agent from Mumbai early Sunday morning for allegedly trying to send 100 kg of contraband Ephedrine tablets to Mexico.

Officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested a Canada-based non-resident Indian and a clearing agent from Mumbai early Sunday morning for allegedly trying to send 100 kg of contraband Ephedrine tablets to Mexico. NCB sleuths said the contraband is worth over Rs 1.5 crore in the international market.

According to the officials, they received a tip-off acting on which a team of NCB sleuths raided the cargo of a Mexico-bound flight at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport and seized the contraband. “Ephedrine is used to make Ecstasy pills. Ephedrine is a major component in preparing banned drugs like Ecstasy and Ice that are consumed in parties worldwide. These drugs are banned not only in the US and Canada but also in India,” said an official of the NCB.

Manprit Bal, the NRI based in Canada, was arrested around 4 am on Sunday along with his alleged accomplice, an Indian clearing and forwarding agent identified only as Ajay S. “We had information that a huge quantity of Ephedrine is being sent in a consignment to Mexico. Accordingly we scanned the cargo and seized the contraband. We arrested Bal from a hotel in Mumbai. He had come down to India to arrange to send the consignment,” the official added.

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According to the officer, there is an international mafia that smuggles Ephedrine to Mexico. There are several other Canadians on the NCB radar who are presently on the run, the official said.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, the NCB also arrested an alleged international drug dealer with an Interpol red corner notice against him. David Dominic was nabbed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) while on his way out of the country. According to an airport source, Dominic was bound for Dubai. Senior Police Inspector Dilip Patil of Sahar Police Station said Dominic had been arrested in the United States in 2005 but had jumped bail, causing the red corner notice to be issued in his name. He may have been in India since.

“Dominic was arrested and produced before a holiday court this afternoon in Bandra and has been remanded to police custody,” Patil added. According to an airport official, no contraband was found on him.

“Dominic will eventually be handed over to the CBI in New Delhi from where the extradition process will begin,” Patil added.

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