NCB Dismantles Global Drug Cartel Spanning 10 Nations

• NCB’s Operation Med Max successfully busts a global drug cartel.
• Eight arrests made, with operations spanning 10 countries on four continents.
• Tramadol tablets seized; two students arrested at Mandi House, Delhi.
• Crackdowns in the US and Australia follow international collaboration.
• Syndicate utilized encrypted communications and cryptocurrency for operations.

Coordination Unleashed: NCB’s Operation Med Max

Major Bust of International Drug Cartel in India Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Wednesday that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has successfully dismantled a large-scale drug cartel that has been operating across ten countries on four continents. This significant operation dubbed “Operation Med Max” began in early May with an interception at Mandi House in New Delhi, leading to the arrest of two BPharma students who were found with 3.7 kilograms of Tramadol tablets, a controlled substance under the NDPS Act since April 2018. Subsequent investigations have so far resulted in the arrest of eight individuals, with further ramifications leading to crackdowns in the United States and Australia against the cartel’s operations.

Investigations Expose Complex Distribution Network

Revelations During Interrogations Point to International Network During the investigation, it was revealed that the arrested individuals admitted to managing a vendor profile on a prominent Indian B2B platform, which they used to sell pharmaceuticals to clients in various regions, including the US, Europe, and Australia. Following the interrogation, leads directed authorities to two chemists based in Roorkee and subsequently to a key associate in Mayur Vihar, Delhi. This associate disclosed information about a contact in Udupi, Karnataka, responsible for organizing bulk drug orders intended for shipment to the US. As the investigation unfolded, the NCB discovered a data trail that indicated a staggering 29 packages went to the US, 18 from Australia, and numerous others aimed for destinations like Estonia, Spain, and Switzerland, prompting involvement from international agencies such as the DEA, Interpol, and Australian police.

Continued Efforts Against Drug Trafficking

Dismantling an Intricate Drug Operation Moreover, reports indicate that the cartel employed sophisticated methods to evade law enforcement, including the use of encrypted communication channels such as Telegram and transactions conducted through cryptocurrencies, PayPal, and Western Union. The NCB official confirmed that the drug syndicate utilized multiple re-shipper hubs worldwide, indicating a vast, organized network that circumvented Indian borders completely. In Australia, authorities succeeded in shutting down an illegal drug manufacturing facility. With this collaboration yielding fruitful results, Amit Shah praised the relentless efforts of the NCB and the cooperative agencies that made this operation possible.

In summary, the recent operations by the NCB have dismantled a wide-reaching international drug cartel operating across several continents. The proactive measures taken have led to arrests, significant seizures of controlled substances, and international cooperation from agencies like the DEA and counterparts in Australia. Amid these achievements, the Indian government vows to maintain its rigorous pursuit of drug traffickers, ensuring the safety and security of communities against narcotics.