Mumbai: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Saturday registered a second case against Keralite Vijin Varghese after 50 kg of "high-quality" cocaine worth Rs 502 crore was seized from a container carrying fruits at the Nhava Sheva Port in Navi Mumbai.
This container was brought to India by the same importer, who was arrested by the DRI in the case involving the seizure of 198 kg meth and 9 kg cocaine from a consignment of oranges originating from South Africa at Vashi earlier this week, said a DRI official.
This is one of the largest seizures of cocaine attempted to be smuggled through sea containers in the recent past, said the official, adding that the drug was seized on Thursday.
"The DRI's Mumbai zonal unit had received intelligence inputs about the consignment, which was brought to Nhava Sheva Port from South Africa. Accordingly, the container was identified and opened in the presence of the DRI officials, following which it was revealed that a large number of bricks made up of high-quality cocaine and weighing approximately 1 kg each, were concealed inside the boxes of green apples," an official statement said.
A total of 50 such bricks weighing 50.23 kg and valued at Rs 502 crore in illicit markets were recovered during the examination, it said.
Vijin was arrested by the DRI officials under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, he said.
This is a part of a series of large drug seizures made by DRI, Mumbai zonal unit ranging from 198 kg of methamphetamine, 9 kg cocaine to 16 kg heroin in the last 10 days, officials claimed.
(With PTI inputs)
