The Hindu : Front Page : Internet drug dealer arrested

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 14, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Internet drug dealer arrested

Special Correspondent

Kolkata: The Chief Executive Officer of an Information Technology company based in the city, Sanjay Kedia, was arrested here on Monday allegedly on charges of trafficking in psychotropic substances through the internet.

He was charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

The arrest brings to an end a year-long operation by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) code named "Pharma" which led to the busting of an international racket in illegal trafficking of psychotropic substances and drug money laundering through internet pharmacies, NCB's Eastern Zonal Director S Mittal said here on Tuesday.

Investigations revealed that the modus operandi of Kedia was to take online orders for such substances from customers in the Untied States and other countries. He was being assisted in such activities by a U.S.-based associate, Steven Mahana.

A team would be going to the United States to carry out further investigations into the case, Mr. Mittal said.

Documentary and digital evidence has been seized during the search operations conducted in New Delhi, Kolkata and the United States by the Drug Enforcement Administration in that country. The searches also led to the seizure of unaccounted cash worth Rs 24 lakh. Kedia, investigations revealed, was also instrumental in laundering large sums of drug money in various international bank accounts in Hong Kong, Luxembourg and the U.S. He was produced before the court of the special judge at Barasat at North 24 Parganas and sent to judicial custody.

Payments

He allegedly used to receive the payments through various payment gateways including Paynova — generally used for high risk internet transactions like gambling. These orders would be put on an online pharmacy interface by filling fake prescriptions and signatures of doctors. His call centre in the city would control the entire transaction to obtain and supply psychotropic substances outside the country.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page