On **November 13, 2024**, **Gautam Mondal**, a well-known drug trafficker with a track record of smuggling gold, was taken into custody in a major operation by the **Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)** Kolkata. Due to his involvement in the illicit trafficking of **Codeine-Based Cough Syrups (CBCS)**, which were meant for shipment to **Bangladesh**, Mondal was taken into custody. The arrest is a component of a broader investigation into the smuggling of **14,998 bottles** of CBCS brand **Phensedyl**, which NCB Kolkata had previously intercepted.
Mondal, a notorious criminal in the drug and gold trafficking industries, has been connected to a number of high-profile incidents. The **Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)** has filed three known cases against him for his prior involvement in the unlawful smuggling of substantial amounts of gold valued at **crores**. In addition to his history of smuggling gold, Mondal was involved in **three significant narcotics-related cases** in West Bengal, which made him a prominent player in the illicit drug trade. He has been increasingly involved in the drug trade, especially in the supply chain to **Bangladesh**, as evidenced by his involvement in the trafficking of CBCS, a highly prohibited substance.
In Mondal’s operation, the **CBCS** was illegally diverted from legal commercial channels and sourced from **Uttar Pradesh**, according to NCB officials. In order to avoid detection, his criminal network employed a complex strategy that involved multiple layers of operations. Mondal was well-known for teaching his colleagues to carry out particular tasks in pairs, and he regularly switched them around to keep law enforcement from spotting any patterns.
Mondal was operating a well-organized trafficking network, which was in charge of the unlawful distribution of **CBCS** throughout West Bengal and beyond, according to the NCB’s investigation. His capture is regarded as a serious setback to this criminal syndicate’s operations. Mondal was a key player in organized crime in the area, according to the NCB, which also disclosed that his network was set up to smuggle a range of illegal substances.
In order to find and detain further members of Mondal’s trafficking organization, the NCB has initiated a joint questioning with the **DRI Kolkata** and **STF West Bengal** subsequent to his arrest. Investigations into the origins and routes of the smuggled drugs are ongoing as the authorities attempt to fully dismantle his syndicate. The unlawful supply of **CBCS** and other banned substances is anticipated to be impacted by Mondal’s capture, which is predicted to disrupt a large chunk of the drug trafficking organization.
SOURCE :
HINDUSTAN TIMES
