Global drug traffickers taking advantage of Covid: CBI

New Delhi: The CBI has issued an alert to all states and Union Territories (UTs) informing them about international drug trafficking activities taking advantage of novel coronavirus outbreak, the agency said on Tuesday.

The Central Bureau of Investigation issued the alert following inputs received from Interpol - the International Criminal Police Organisation that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and crime control. The CBI has also alerted other Central agencies as per the inputs received from the Interpol mentioning "international drug trafficking activities taking advantage of this global pandemic scenario and of possible drug shipments concealed in cargo relating to Covid-19 protective equipment".

The Central agency advised the states, UTs and other central agencies to alert as well as share information with it when they find anything suspicious, and act accordingly.

As the Covid-19 protective equipment demand has increased with the nationwide lockdown due to the deadly pandemic and growing numbers of cases in the country, international drug trafficking groups have associated their illegal activities with it, said an official.