Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Mar 18: In one of the biggest drug seizures in Karnataka’s history, the Mangaluru CCB police confiscated MDMA worth Rs 75 crore in Bengaluru and arrested two African women. The operation, which culminated on March 14, had been in the works for the past three months, starting in Delhi.
Six months ago, during a drug-related case in Mangaluru, the CCB had arrested a Nigerian national named Peter. Based on the information obtained from him, the police tracked bank accounts, SIM cards, and other leads, eventually heading to Delhi to continue their investigation. Special surveillance was also placed near the airport, where suspicions about the movements of two African women deepened.
At one point, authorities had planned to arrest the women in Delhi, but due to unfavourable conditions and a larger objective of nabbing other peddlers and kingpins, the plan was put on hold. Instead, the CCB gathered additional intelligence and devised a strategic operation, which was successfully executed in Bengaluru on March 14. While other drug peddlers managed to evade capture, the police seized a massive quantity of MDMA and arrested the two African women.
A team of around 40 personnel, including the ACP and inspectors, was involved in cracking this major drug racket. The initial seizure of 6 kg of MDMA from Peter had strengthened their belief that a larger consignment was in circulation.
A specialized team of 12 members, including two women constables, a PSI, an ASI, and several officers, carried out the direct operation, while others assisted in gathering intelligence and handling communications.
“The operation posed significant challenges. Even a minor slip-up could have allowed the suspects to escape. The accused had fake passports, visas, and identities, frequently changed SIM cards, and often avoided using mobile phones, making tracking difficult. Adding to the complexity, the operation was conducted without any support from officials at Delhi or Bengaluru airports. Despite these hurdles, the CCB executed the mission with utmost secrecy and efficiency,” said Anupam Agarwal, police commissioner, Mangaluru.