Gujarat has become epicentre of drug smuggling: Congress

Gujarat has become epicentre of drug smuggling under BJP rule, alleged Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera. Holding a press conference in Ahmedabad on Thursday, the Congress leader slammed the BJP-led government at the Centre over the seizure of massive amount of drug worth 21,000 cr at Mundra port in Gujarat and demanded a detailed probe into it.

"Some media reports claimed that before this seizure, 25 tonnes of heroin had arrived at the same port in June and made its way to other parts of the country without being detected. Gujarat, the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, is slowly becoming drugs capital of the country," Khera said.

The DRI has arrested a couple in connection with the seizure of heroin from the Mundra port who own an export-import company which was registered only last year. The heroin was destined for Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh.

"Who are the bigger players behind this entire racket? Who is running this network?" the Congress leader asked. And why narcotic substances are landing at this port "on a regular basis" and not at other ports, the Congress leader further questioned.

Pavan Khera alleged that drug smugglers had shifted their operations from Kolkata and Mumbai to Gujarat as the state was under BJP rule.

He charged that the BJP government has failed to provide adequate security on the country’s coastline. The handing over the management of ports to private companies has posed a threat to the country’s security.

Pawan Khera also demanded that the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister Amit Shah should take some action to bust this drug network. He further asked why the government has not appointed a full-time director general of the Narcotics Control Bureau.

Meanwhile, the Adani group has clarified that the Mundra port authority does not have any control over the shipment that arrives at the port. In a statement, the Adani Port Limitied said it has no power to inspect and take action on the contraband that may be inside the containers of a ship berthed at the port.