Puia, 19, a native of Aizawl in Mizoram, was arrested by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) sleuths from the international airport in Mumbai, with alleged possession of 3.9 kg of methaqualone
Investigation into the contraband smuggling case involving national- level table tennis champion Lalrin Puia, who was arrested last month, revealed that he was induced by a Delhi-based woman to work as a courier to ferry the contraband. Puia was promised an all-paid trip to Mozambique and a mobile phone, probe revealed.
Puia, 19, a native of Aizawl in Mizoram, was arrested by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) sleuths from the international airport in Mumbai, with alleged possession of 3.9 kg of methaqualone, which is used to prepare recreational drugs. Under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act it’s an offence to manufacture, possess and transport this drug.
According to NCB sources, Puia, who stays in a hostel in Delhi, claimed during his interrogation that he was induced into this drug syndicate by a 40-year-old woman identified as Rebecca Ralte, who they fondly call Mizo aunty.
“As per Puia, Mizo aunty, who also stays in Delhi, offered him an all-expenses paid trip to Mozambique and a mobile phone if he agreed to get her bag from Maputo in Mozambique. Mizo aunty told Puia that one uncle Frank would meet him in Maputo and would hand over a bag to him, which he needs to deliver safely to her in Delhi,” said a source.
Puia went to Maputo on December 3 last year and met Frank and the latter gave him the said bag. “From Maputo, Puia flew to Adis Ababa and then to Mumbai. From Mumbai, he was supposed to go to Delhi to meet Mizo aunty. It appears Puia was lured to work for the syndicate and this is for the first time that he worked as a courier. We believe Frank is a top drug runner from Maputo. Efforts are on to gather more details about him. We are also trying to gather more information about Mizo aunty,” said the source.
The agency also suspects that the drug was meant to be supplied for New Year celebrations in India.
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