The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed another chargesheet in the Mundra Port narcotics case, related to the seizure of 2,988 kg heroin. The consignment was smuggled into India from Afghanistan through Iran in 2021. The NIA has named a total of 42 individuals and seven firms in this case. On Friday, the NIA filed a chargesheet against Pankaj Vaid, a resident of Amritsar, Punjab. He is accused of being part of an organized criminal conspiracy to smuggle heroin from Afghanistan to India.
Pankaj was associated with foreign-based narcotics traders who were involved in pushing drugs into India. The NIA investigations found that he facilitated the processing of heroin and sold it in India. The case was initially registered by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Unit – Gandhidham, Gujarat, and later taken over by the NIA on October 6, 2021.
The NIA filed a chargesheet against 16 accused persons on March 14, 2022, after taking over the probe. On August 29, 2022, the NIA filed the first supplementary chargesheet against nine accused. The second supplementary chargesheet was filed on February 20, 2023, against seven firms and 15 individuals.
