The masterminds of the alleged international racket busted by the Mumbai Anti Narcotics Cell earlier this month would hold interviews for potential couriers, and only those who passed were selected, investigating officers said on Tuesday.
Earlier this month, the ANC arrested Furkana Sheikh (27), a Kurla resident who was allegedly trying to smuggle 464 grams of amphetamine on board a Qatar Airways flight. Based on her interrogation, the police arrested Tabassum Sheikh and Rashid Faras from Mumbai and Rashid Mulla and Mustakim Ali from Kerala.
According to ANC sources, Ms. Tabassum was tasked with finding couriers willing to take drugs to Doha, where Mr. Ali’s brother operates the other end of the racket, and was given clear parameters.
“The couriers had to be under 30 years of age, educated, well-versed in English and comfortable with western wear. Ms. Tabassum would look for such women, preferably unemployed and in urgent need of money, and after convincing them to do the job, would take them to meet Mr. Ali. The interviews would happen at random locations in Mumbai or other cities and only those who made the cut were exposed to the next level of the racket,” an ANC officer said.
The officer said each courier was offered up to ₹70,000 for a single trip, which would involve handing over the smuggled drugs to people working for Mr. Ali’s brother in Dubai, and return with gold concealed on their person.
“To deflect suspicion, the accused would hide the drugs in cartons of toys or boxes of sweets preferred by children. The cover story would be that of a woman visiting her relatives in Doha and taking gifts for the children in the family. The same women would bring back small, thin plates of gold concealed either under their waist belts or in the form of jewellery in their luggage,” the officer said.
As per their interrogation, the accused interviewed around 25 women, and the ANC is working on finding out how many of them worked as couriers for them, officers said.
The ANC is also investigating the gang’s alleged involvement in hawala rackets.
