Interpol announced that it seized massive amounts of drugs valued at $6.5 billion (based on current wholesale values) in an international operation. The amount of fentanyl seized is said to be enough to kill 151 million people.
The crackdown named Operation Lionfish Mayag III, which ran from 30 June to 13 July, intercepted 76 tonnes of drugs, including 51 tonnes of methamphetamine in the form of 297 million meth pills or ‘yaba pills’, along with fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and chemical precursors.
In India, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) brought down the most advanced darknet drug syndicate run by Ketamelon, born Edison Babu, in July. The NCB unmasked Ketamelon after launching 'Operation Melon', which seized LSD blots and ketamine, as well as digital assets valued at approximately USD 87,000. Ketamelon had conducted about 600 drug shipments in just the past 14 months.
The Operation Coordination was based in Colombo, Srilanka and brought together 18 countries from Asia and North America to combat the manufacturing and the trafficking of synthetic drugs.
In Myanmar, two suspicious vehicles, one carrying 22kg of heroin hidden behind pineapples, and the other containing 5.25 million yaba pills. An additional 4 million pills were found after tracing the person and the house.
More than 190,000 fentanyl tablets and 1.7 tonnes of methamphetamine were seized in Mexico. In the US Drug Enforcement Administration, officers seized MDMA pills laced with fentanyl. Authorities in Indonesia intercepted 116kg of xylazine, a veterinary tranquilliser often mixed with fentanyl, heroin, or cocaine, a combination that is often fatal.
The operation uncovered Ketamine concealed inside surfboards, espresso machines, and bags of cat food, and heroin packaged in powdered tea and
Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said, “The drugs trafficked by transnational criminal networks fuel violence, cripple economies and endanger public health.” “We will continue coordinating global efforts to support our member countries in safeguarding communities.”
A total of 386 arrests were made across participating countries, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.
