Nearly three tonnes of heroin with a street value of $2.7bn from Afghanistan have been seized from a western Indian port in a major bust, officials said.

Iran PressAsia: Two Indians were arrested after the heroin, which was kept in two containers marked as carrying talc, was found by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Mundra Port in the western state of Gujarat, the government agency said.

The consignment – with one container carrying nearly 2,000kg of heroin and another holding nearly 1,000kg – originated from Afghanistan to Gujarat, the DRI said.

“Searches have been conducted in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Chennai, Gandhidham, and Mandvi in Gujarat,” the agency said in a statement.

It added that the shipment was estimated to be worth 200bn rupees ($2.7bn).

The investigation also allegedly uncovered the involvement of Afghan nationals, the DRI said, although no one else has been arrested so far.

Afghanistan is the world’s biggest producer of heroin, supplying between 80-90% of global output.

Heroin production has boomed in Afghanistan in recent years.

Efforts by the US and the international community to control the country’s heroin trade over many years have been largely unsuccessful.

211