MUMBAI, May 27: Narco-terrorism has hit Mumbai. On Saturday, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) stumbled upon one of the major drug hauls of the decade -- 23 kg of heroin worth Rs 23 crore.

It was found concealed in a secret cavity of the rear seat of a white Maruti 1000 car. When NCB officers Rajan Nair and Ajay Tiruley intercepted the car at Balram Peth at Grant Road, little did they know that they were about to unearth an international racket in drugs and hawala involving the LTTE and the Pakistani drug mafia with operations in Canada and Europe. It was disclosed only on Monday evening that the seizure was related to terrorism involving two neighbouring countries, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The NCB officers arrested Harish Bishnoi, the sole agent of Pakistani drug consignment in Mumbai, and Manivannan Mahadevan alias Rubon, a Sri Lankan national. Both were their countries' chief operators of the drugs trade here.

The syndicate dealt in over 1,200 to 1,600 kg of drugs annually. Its kingpin, a Tamilian (nationality not known), is still at large. He used to bring in fresh recruits from Sri Lanka who would later be sent to Canada and Europe after putting in a few years of service in drug running here. Both Toronto and London have LTTE bases.

The key drug-runner is reportedly a multi-millionaire and has three mistresses in the city with whom he stays on alternate days. Despite his wealth, he does not own a house or a car. He always travels by taxi, switching over to a new one every few miles before reaching his destination. However, his man, Mahadevan, is now in the NCB net. Bishnoi has very wide contacts in Karachi, Pakistan. He told the NCB he used to funnel drug money to Dubai in the name of one Choudhary through hawala channels. Bishnoi used to take orders from one Haji, a Pakistani narcotics don.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.