In a crackdown on drug trafficking, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch has seized narcotics worth ₹3.45 crore that were illegally imported from the USA, Canada, and Thailand through foreign postal services. The contraband, which included hybrid ganja, MD drugs, hashish (charas), cannabis oil, and isopropyl nitrate, was smuggled under the guise of toys and food items.

Acting on intelligence received from a private source, the Crime Branch learned of a suspicious consignment at the Foreign Post Office (Import), Department of the Indian Postal Service in Shahibaug, Ahmedabad. Upon verification with the Commissioner (Customs), a total of 105 parcels were identified and submitted for detailed examination on March 12.

Following a thorough inspection, the Customs Department handed over the suspicious parcels to the Crime Branch, which led to the seizure of the following –

1. Hybrid Ganja – 10,550 grams worth ₹3.12 crore
2. Charas (Hashish) – 79 grams worth ₹3.95 lakh
3. MD drugs – 248 grams worth ₹24.80 lakh
4. Cannabis oil – 32 glass tubes (5 ml each)
5. Isopropyl nitrate – 6 bottles of (25 ml each)

Modus operandi

Investigations have revealed that drug traffickers exploited the dark web and online platforms to order narcotics from international suppliers. These drugs were then shipped to fake or incomplete addresses in India to avoid detection. The parcels were cleverly disguised as soft toys, protein powder, and other food items to bypass security screenings.

A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and further investigations are underway to trace those involved in the smuggling network. Authorities are now working to identify the intended recipients of these illegal shipments.

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has assured stringent action against drug syndicates operating through such clandestine networks. Citizens have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to drug trafficking. ‎