Kochi: More than 120 crore tramadol tablets worth over ₹1,000 crore, allegedly meant for illegal export, have been seized in Delhi in what authorities describe as the largest haul of narcotic tablets in India. Three people, including two Malayalis accused of masterminding the operation, have been arrested.

The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) arrested Thiruvananthapuram native Umesh Kumar and Malappuram native Firdous from Edappally in Kochi. The director of a Bengaluru-based company linked to the case had been arrested earlier in Bengaluru.

The CBN recovered around 30,000 kg of tramadol tablets from a warehouse in Delhi. Tramadol is a powerful prescription painkiller that has also been misused as a narcotic, particularly in conflict zones. Cases have been registered against all three accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

‘Operation Vajra’ uncovers alleged export diversion plot

The seizure was made as part of Operation Vajra, an enforcement drive led by the Central Bureau of Narcotics, which functions under the Revenue Department of the Union Finance Ministry.

Searches carried out between July 10 and July 20 by the CBN's Preventive Unit in Gwalior, with support from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) offices in Bengaluru, Delhi and Kochi, led investigators to the accused.

According to the investigation, the consignment was allegedly documented as a shipment bound for the African nation of Guinea-Bissau but was intended to be diverted to Libya. The CBN said it coordinated with the International Narcotics Control Board and the authorities in Guinea-Bissau, who confirmed that the declared destination was fraudulent.

Further investigation led officials to the alleged Malayali conspirators. The agency is now probing whether the racket has wider international links.