DRI seizes contraband drugs worth Rs 57 lakh

The DRI on Thursday arrested eight persons from Thane district for allegedly exporting contraband drugs as contraband drugs and seized 16 lakh tablets worth Rs 57 lakh, which are used as sedatives and mood enhancers, an officer said.

"We have arrested eight persons in connection with the export of banned drugs as medical samples abroad. 16 lakh tablets worth Rs 57 lakh, which are commonly used as sedatives and mood elevators, were seized during the operation," the Directorate of Revenue of Intelligence (DRI) officer said.

The seized tablets are that of alprozolam, diazepam, nitrazepam, zolpidem and amphetamine, the official added.

DRI officials conducted searches at the premises of one M/s Allied Air Express and two other premises at Mira Road. The accused had received orders from the US and the UK at three makeshift call centres located at different parts of the country.

"The information from the call centres were communicated to Allied Express, which sourced the contraband from Sangli, Ludhiana and Delhi," the official said.

The official added that the contraband was packed by Allied Express in courier covers and sent to Delhi and it is routed to UK, USA and Russia via speed post as medical samples.