International drug rackets operating from Andhra Pradesh

International drug rackets operating from Andhra Pradesh

The investigation into international drug rackets operating from Andhra Pradesh is heading nowhere because of lack of coordination between various agencies. Police and agencies such as Directorate of Revenue Intelligence have only been able to arrest couriers so far. In at least three drug busts by the DRI there has been headway after the initial arrests. Though the drug rackets and handlers of the couriers are based in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad none of them have been arrested so far.

In January, a Nigerian identified as Benjamin was caught after he booked drug consignments in the guise of books from Tirupati, Vijayawada and Vishakapatnam to South Africa, China, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain and France.

The drugs seized were worth Rs 2.04 crore. However, his handlers in Delhi and other gang members in the state have not been arrested yet.

“No doubt the DRI has done a wonderful job in nabbing the mules but there is need for a stronger crackdown on Mafia networks,” said a senior police officer. “There is no sharing of information or coordination with the local police.”
He added that the Task Force of the city police and the narcotics department in CID can help the DRI in cracking the network. Drug racketeers are choosing cities such as Hyderabad and towns like Tirupati for their operations so as to avoid the police dragnet.

In another case, a Thai woman identified as Korn Wipha Pinkeo was caught at Hyderabad airport while trying to smuggle out 2.2 kg of heroin in April 2008. She was a sex worker and was employed by a suspected Nigerian national.

“We are not given any inputs by other agencies to carry forward the probe,” said the Task Force deputy commissioner of police, Mr V.B. Kamalasan Reddy. “Our teams are now planning to bust rackets suspected to be behind city rave parties.”
Last year, the Task Force arrested racketeers involved in smuggling of 9 kg of opium.

Source: DC