In a joint operation by narcotics control bureau (NCB), postal department and anti-narcotics cell (ANC) of the city police, a Nigerian was arrested on Friday for allegedly being part of an international drug syndicate. The accused had come to a post office to collect a parcel containing 600 grams of cocaine having international market value (IMV) of Rs4.80 crore that had come from Brazil.

The arrested person has been identified as Frank William (28).

Speaking about the modus-operandi of the syndicate, an NCB source said, "Mentor of the gang stays in Brazil. He sends a parcel through air courier and inform their recipients here about the consignment. Their local contact here then collects the said parcel from the local post office. The recipients use bogus documents and passport while claiming the consignment."

The NCB had received specific information about the parcel containing 600 grams of cocaine worth Rs4.80 crore that would be arriving at a post office in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. They then alerted the postal officials and ANC and organised a trap. The accused was nabbed when he arrived at the post office to collect the parcel.

"In such cases we have seen that the quantity of cocaine is increased by adulteration. The recipient then receives a call from his mentor, who will then instruct him to deliver the consignment to another person and then the adulteration takes place. Such huge quantity consignments are then smuggled to other countries like China and Malaysia," the source said.