India seeks Iran help to curb Influx of drugs via its ports

India has sought Iran's assistance to curb influx of drugs from Chabahar and Bandar Abbas Ports. The issue was taken up at a meeting between heads of narcotics control agencies of the two countries last month. The Narcotics Control Bureau and Iran's anti-narcotics division decided to establish focal points for real-time sharing of information.

During the meeting, Iran sought details and consular access for its nationals arrested in India by various drug and law enforcement agencies, ET has learnt. Police in Bengaluru had recently arrested two Iranian nationals for 'peddling drugs.' They were in India on student visa but started peddling drugs, the police alleged.

"During the meeting, Iran said heroin and narcotics were being smuggled from Afghanistan to Iranian ports and highlighted details of arrests and seizures made by its anti-narcotics units. The recent seizure of 3,000 kg heroin at Mundra Port in Gujarat was also discussed," said an official who was part of the deliberations. The heroin worth ₹21,000 crore was concealed in jumbo bags marked as containing unprocessed talc powder. The drug was placed in the lower layers of the bags and topped with talc stones to avoid detection.


Eight persons, including four Afghan nationals, one Uzbek national and three Indians have been arrested in the case so far. The case was transferred to the National Investigation Agency, which subsequently carried out searches last month in Delhi and sought assistance of a forensics laboratory. Besides NDPS Act, NIA has invoked Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in the case. An NIA spokesperson did not comment on the assistance it has sought from Iran.

India has sought an enquiry into the Iranian ship used to ferry the containers with heroin from Bandar Abbas port. "The drugs packed in Afghanistan were exported by a Kandahar-based company, Hassan Hussain Limited, and imported by Aashi Trading Company in Vijayawada," an official said. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence had in October also seized narcotics at the Nhava Sheva Port in Navi Mumbai, smuggled in cans of mustard oil, from a consignment that came from Afghanistan via Chabahar port.