.jpg?$p=a80322e&f=16x10&w=852&q=0.8)
Mansoor Thachamparambil, Vijin Varghese
Kochi: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) informed that Keralite Mansoor Thachamparambil, owner of More Fresh Exports, is the mastermind behind the smuggling of drug worth Rs 1476 cr in Mumbai. A total of 320 boxes which were hidden inside boxes of oranges were seized in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Reportedly, Mansoor is engaged in drug smuggling for the past four years. He had directed to shift the drug packets, imported in Mumbai, to the warehouse, DRI said. Mathrubhumi News has obtained the DRI report in this regard.
According to the DRI report, Mansoor had set up a special company in Johannesburg for smuggling drugs. Most of the drugs were shipped via Mumbai and Kochi ports, stated the report.
Mansoor had attempted to smuggle 320 boxes of drugs hidden inside 46,000 boxes of valencia oranges. He had also given instructions to Vigin Varghese, who was arrested the previous day, via a WhatsApp call to shift the boxes to a special godown. Meanwhile, a DRI investigation is underway to find out whether more Keralites are involved in the incident.
The major drug trafficking under the pretext of orange imports came into light following a raid in Mumbai on Saturday. The accused are identified as Vigin Varghese, a native of Ernakulam and the managing director of Yummmitto International Foods Private Limited headquartered in Kochi. DRI officials had seized 198 kg methamphetamine and 9 kg cocaine, worth Rs 1,476 crore, which was shipped to India from South Africa. DRI has sought Interpol’s aid to find Mansoor and bring him back to the country.
RELATED STORIES
.png?$p=ff6336c&f=1x1&w=100&q=0.8)
.jpg?$p=8a7b7b1&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
.jpg?$p=8312ca4&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
