Investigators say two Kerala-based suspects, Umesh Kumar and Firdous, were the principal conspirators operating from Kochi, with a third accused, the director of a Bengaluru firm, arrested in Bengaluru.

Two brothers from Kerala were arrested in Kochi under Operation Vajra in a case tied to an attempted diversion of a massive tramadol shipment to international markets.

The black-market value of the seized tramadol exceeds Rs 1,000 crore.

Officials said the seizure prevented a massive shipment of illicit synthetic opioids from reaching conflict zones and stressed ongoing efforts to dismantle transnational networks with international cooperation.

The operation ran from July 10 to July 20 across Bengaluru, Delhi, and Kochi, relying on intelligence inputs, risk-based export profiling, and inter-agency coordination.

Tramadol is a controlled painkiller; high-potency variants are often diverted for narcotic use in conflict zones, making the seized batch worth over Rs 1,000 crore on the black market.

Three accused—one from Bengaluru and two from Kochi—were nabbed under the NDPS Act, 1985.

The seized shipment was allegedly headed for smuggling to Libya, underscoring the international scope of the trafficking network.

The operation fits into broader government efforts toward Nasha Mukt Bharat, emphasizing safeguarding regulatory frameworks and inter-agency collaboration.

Enforcement credited intelligence-led work, risk-based profiling, and international cooperation, including with the International Narcotics Control Board and Guinea-Bissau authorities, for thwarting the trafficking network.

The information was released in an official communique published early on July 21, 2026, at 1:00 am IST.

They also reaffirmed steps to strengthen regulatory frameworks and pursue Nasha Mukt Bharat goals.