Tramadol worth GBP 10.2 million seized at Mundra Port, destined for Africa

According to a PIB release, Tramadol is reportedly in high demand in African nations like Nigeria, Ghana, etc.

Customs officials at Mundra port in Gujarat’s Kutch district, India, recently seized approximately 6.8 million Tramadol tablets valued at Rs 110 crore (around GBP 10.2 million).

The tablets were discovered in two export containers bound for Sierra Leone and Niger in West Africa.

Tramadol, an opioid pain medication, was classified as a psychotropic substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act) in 2018 and its export is now restricted.

This synthetic opioid drug has gained notoriety in recent times as the “Fighter Drug” after it was reported that ISIS fighters used it to stay awake for long hours, said a PIB release on Monday.

It is reportedly in high demand in African nations like Nigeria, Ghana, etc.

The Mundra Customs seizure is one of the largest seizures of Tramadol since it was notified under the NDPS Act, said the release.

The two containers, exported by a Rajkot-based merchant, were falsely declared to contain Diclofenac tablets and Gebedol tablets.

Based on intelligence gathered by Special Intelligence & Investigation Branch of Mundra Customs, they were intercepted and examined.

“While the declared item was found in the front end of the container, detailed examination revealed boxes containing undeclared medicine strips bearing marking as ‘Tramaking 225 and ‘Royal-225’ both containing Tramadol Hydrochloride Tablet 225 mg.

“Neither, the strips nor the boxes had any details of the Manufacturer,” the release noted.

Follow-up searches are being conducted at Rajkot, Gandhinagar and Gandhidham, according to the release.