NCB detained a Santacruz resident over a drug case

Officials from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) apprehended a man from Andheri on Saturday for allegedly possessing Zolpidem tablets. Last Monday, the NCB confiscated a shipment of Zolpidem worth over two kilograms that were bound for Texas, United States of America. The tablets were hidden in foods and household objects. Uttam Param Thevarpakkal, a Santacruz citizen, has been confirmed as the person detained. As per NCB authorities, Theverpakkal was detained from the MIDC region on Saturday after receiving specific information. Zolpidem pills were purportedly seized by the agency. According to agency sources, Theverpakkal is accused of being a member of the cartel that was involved in attempting to smuggle a Zolpidem shipment to Texas.

"We'll be looking into where Theverpakkal got his Zolpidem, how he got linked with the illicit receivers, and who his receivers were," an NCB official stated. From December 10 to December 15, NCB officials conducted six separate operations in Mumbai, seizing a total of 2.296 kilograms of Amphetamine, 3.906 kilograms of Opium, 2.525 kilograms of Zolpidem tablets, to be cannabis hidden in clothing items (two Jeans) destined for Kuwait.

According to the NCB, the total worth of contraband confiscated in these operations was Rs 13 crore. According to agency sources, the contraband confiscated in all of the raids was supposed to be trafficked to foreign nations through air couriers in Andheri, including the Maldives, Australia, Dubai, New Zealand, and Switzerland. In one of the raids, the FBI also detained an Ivorian national.

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