Foreign national arrested for transporting cocaine worth Rs 1.20 cr from Mumbai to Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): A foreign woman has been arrested for allegedly transporting 121 grams of cocaine, valued at Rs 1.20 crore, from Mumbai to Bengaluru by concealing it in bread covers while travelling in a private bus, police said on Tuesday.
Along with the contraband, a mobile phone allegedly used in the offence was also seized from her, they said.
Police, however, did not disclose the identity of the accused woman.
Acting on a tip-off that a foreign woman residing within the limits of Varthur police station was supplying cocaine to known persons, the CCB Narcotics Control Wing conducted the raid recently and secured the accused, a senior police officer said.
According to police, the woman had come to Delhi in 2024 on a student visa, claiming to pursue studies at a university. However, without enrolling in any college, she stayed in areas such as Ghatkopar, Ambawadi and Nallasopara in Mumbai.
She allegedly procured cocaine from a friend in Mumbai and, as per his instructions, transported and supplied the drug to designated locations, thereby engaging in drug peddling and earning illegal money, police said.
Preliminary investigation revealed that she frequently travelled from Mumbai to Bengaluru in private buses and transported cocaine by concealing it in covers of bread and similar products to evade detection, the officer said.
A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Varthur police station. The accused is presently in judicial custody, police added.
In another incident, police arrested two persons from another state for allegedly selling prohibited narcotic drugs in Bengaluru.
With their arrest, police claimed to have seized 247 grams of hydro ganja and 19 grams of MDMA, together valued at Rs 26.90 lakh.
The arrests were made on December 21 after Jalahalli police station staff received information that some persons were in possession of prohibited narcotic drugs and were selling them to customers near Kalingarao Circle, within the limits of the police station.
Following a raid, the accused duo were secured and, during interrogation, allegedly confessed that with the intention of earning more money, they had purchased hydro ganja and MDMA at a low price from an unknown person and sold them to customers at a higher price, the officer said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Hormuz Strait disruptions have caused huge economic impact, energy instability in region: Navy chief
Mumbai (PTI): The Strait of Hormuz disruptions have caused severe economic impact and energy instability in the region, Indian Navy chief Admiral D K Tripathi said on Thursday amid the war in West Asia.
Speaking at an event where INS Sunayna, an offshore patrol vessel, set sail from Mumbai as Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar, the admiral said competition at sea has no longer remained confined to oil and energy.
It is now expanding towards resources that will shape future growth - such as rare earth elements, critical minerals, new fishing grounds and even data, he said.
The West Asia crisis began on February 28 after a joint attack by the US and Israel on Iran.
Iran's strikes on its neighbours along with its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted the world's energy supplies with effects far beyond West Asia.
"With the conflict in West Asia well into its fifth week, the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have caused severe economic impact and energy instability in the region," Tripathi said.
There is significant increase in the marine survey, deep-sea research activity, and Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU), often encroaching upon the sovereign rights of littoral nations and exploiting gaps in monitoring and enforcement, he said.
Alongside these, threats such as piracy, armed robbery and narco-trafficking backed by unimpeded access of advanced technology to non-state actors, have also become more complex and challenging to counter, the Navy chief pointed out.
Last year alone, the Indian Ocean Region witnessed a staggering 3,700 maritime incidents of varying nature, the admiral said.
Additionally, narcotics seizures in the region exceeded USD 1 billion USD in 2025, highlighting the persistence and spread of such challenges in the region, he said.
