Operation Calypso: DRI busts International Cocaine Smuggling racket

November 19, 2020

The Directorate of Revenue intelligence (DRI) recently launched Operation Calypso. Under the operation, 504 grams of cocaine was seized and a transnational drug racket was busted. The gang has successfully smuggled more than 3.3 kilograms of cocaine in Mumbai. The value of the smuggled cocaine has been estimated as 20 crores of Rupees.

Directorate of Revenue Intelligence

The Directorate is run by the officers of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs. It Is one of the major intelligence agencies of India.

World Drug Report, 2020

The report is prepared by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. According to the report, India is one of the major hubs of illegal drug trafficking. Drug trade in India ranges from age old Cannabis to new drugs such as Methamphetamine. Drug trafficking is high in India because India is located in the middle of two major opium production regions of the world. They are Golden Triangle and Golden Crescent. The Golden Triangle represents the region of Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. The Golden Crescent comprises of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Drug policy in India

The two major drug laws of India are the Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances act, 1988 and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The NDPS act makes it illegal for a person to manufacture, cell, process, transport, purchased, store or consume psychotropic substances or narcotic drugs.

The NDPS Act

The Narcotic Control Bureau was set up in 1986 under the act. Also, the act fulfils obligations of treaties signed by India. India has signed the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Convention on Psychotropic Substances.