New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday took over the probe into the seizure of 2,988 kg narcotic at the Mundra port in Gujarat, an official said.In accordance to a Ministry of Home Affairs order issued on Wednesday, the NIA has taken up the investigation of the case under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985, (NDPS) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against Machavaram Sudhakaran, Durga PV Govindaraju, Rajkumar P and others, the agency official said.Hindustan Times reported that, The ministry of home affairs (MHA) decided to transfer the probe to NIA as there is a clear terror link in the smuggling, which agencies are probing from the Taliban-Pakistan angle, according to an official, who requested anonymity.The case relates to the seizure of 2,988.21 kg of heroin, disguised as consignment of semi-processed talc stones originating from Afghanistan, which had arrived at the Mundra port from Bandar Abbas Port in Iran, according to the NIA official.Also Read: Rs 20,000-Crore Heroin From Afghanistan Seized at Gujarat PortAccording to The Indian Express, the accused Machavaram Sudhakaran and Durga PV Govindaraju owned the company which was shipping the contraband and Rajkumar P who hailed from Coimbatore, was working in Iran and, “was co-ordinating with foreign suppliers”. Up till now nine people have been arrested in this case, four of them are Afghans and one of them is an Uzbek National.A special Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances court in Gujarat has directed the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to investigate if the “Mundra Adani Port, its management and its authority has gained any benefits” from the import of the 2,988.21 kg heroin.The official said that after registration of the case, requisite actions for its expeditious investigation have been initiated.
