NEW DELHI: The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), in one of its biggest worldwide operations against drug trafficking, made a massive seizure of synthetic drugs valued at $ 6.5 billion, the global crime policing body said on Tuesday.
The authorities intercepted a total of 76 tonnes of drugs, including 51 tonnes of methamphetamine, along with fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and chemical precursors, from across continents, including Asia and North America.
A total of 386 arrests were made during the two-week operation, including a red corner notice suspect, running a large-scale methamphetamine smuggling operation into Incheon National Airport.
The record confiscation of drugs took place under 'Operation Lionfish-Mayag III', conducted over a period of 15 days, from June 30 to July 13.
The Operation Lionfish-Mayag III was focused on combating the manufacturing, trafficking and smuggling of synthetic drugs across 18 countries in Asia and North America.
In Sri Lanka, the Operational Coordination Unit brought together specialised officers and international partners to work together in real-time on transnational cases.
In India, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) authorities dismantled a top Darknet drug syndicate known as "Ketamelon".
LSD blots and ketamine, as well as digital assets with an estimated value of $87, 000, were seized by the authorities. Investigations revealed the vendor was responsible for more than 600 drug shipments in the past 14 months.
In Myanmar, two vehicles, carrying 22kg of heroin hidden in pineapples, and the other containing 5.25 million yaba pills, were impounded. Investigations traced both shipments to the same person, and a subsequent house search led to the seizure of an additional 4 million pills.
In the Lao PDR, 3.9 tonnes of methamphetamine and 10 production machines were seized, leading to the arrest of two individuals.