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Sandhya Aqua Officially Disavows Connection to Drug Smuggling Following Discovery of Cocaine in Imported Shrimp Feed Ingredients

Indian Authorities Interrogate Sandhya Aqua Executives Regarding Cocaine and Other Narcotics Discovered in Imported Shrimp Feed Ingredients from Brazil.

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Sandhya Aqua Officially Disavows Connection to Drug Smuggling Following Discovery of Cocaine in Imported Shrimp Feed Ingredients
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"Indian Authorities Uncover Cocaine and Methaqualone in Shrimp Feed Ingredient Shipment, Sandhya Aqua Under Investigation"
Agents from India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) discovered various illegal drugs, including cocaine and methaqualone, during a search of a container at Visakhapatnam’s Vizag port on Thursday, March 21. The container, imported from Brazil via Germany by Visakhapatnam-based shrimp firm Sandhya Aqua, contained 1,000 packets of dry yeast for shrimp feed production, totaling 25,000 kilograms of yeast. Acting on an Interpol tip, CBI agents found drugs in 70 percent of the 49 tested yeast packets, reported the New Indian Express.
Subsequently, CBI conducted a raid on Sandhya Aqua’s headquarters and interviewed company executives, demanding their call records and shipment payment details, as per the Deccan Chronicle. The company is also under scrutiny regarding an abandoned Sandhya Aqua bus found on March 24, post-raid, containing a hard drive and company documents.
Sandhya Aqua stated that this was their initial dry yeast shipment from Brazil and that the “Star Yeast 370” product was intended for their new shrimp feed plant in Kathipudi. Denying involvement in prohibited activities, the company emphasized its reputable status in the global seafood trade.
Founded in 2005 by Kunam Veerabhadra Rao, Sandhya Aqua currently operates three processing plants with extensive processing capabilities. Its subsidiaries include AZ Gems, Bonmea Europe, and Select Source, with significant operations in the United States and Canada.
The scandal has gained attention in local elections discussions, as Kunam Veerabhadra Rao’s brother, Kunam Purnachandra Rao, leads the local YSR Congress Party branch. The Teluga Desam Party (TDP) has accused local government officials of interference and called for an investigation into potential international drug trafficking ties with the YSR Congress Party, as reported by The Hindu.
Sandhya Aqua faces further scrutiny following reports from the Corporate Accountability Lab, Associated Press, and the Outlaw Ocean Project on March 20, alleging forced labor within India’s shrimp supply chain.
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