Indian police charge Amazon executives in alleged marijuana smuggling case

The Amazon logo is pictured inside the company’s office in Bengaluru, India, April 20, 2018. REUTERS/Abhishek N. Chinnappa // File Photo

LAKNOW, India, Nov 20 (Reuters) – Indian police said on Saturday they had brought charges against top Amazon executives. (AMZN.O) Local unit under drug laws in an alleged case of marijuana smuggling via an online retailer.

Police in the central state of Madhya Pradesh have arrested two men in possession of 20 kilograms of the active substance Marijuana On November 14 they found that they were using Amazon India to order the substance and smuggle it in the form of stevia leaf, a natural sweetener, to other Indian states.

The state police said in a statement that Amazon India executives have been named as defendants under the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act due to differences in answers in documents the company provided in response to police questions and facts discovered through the discussion.

Police did not disclose how many executives have been charged.

Police, who previously summoned and spoke with Amazon executives in the case, estimated that about 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, worth approximately $148,000, was sold via Amazon.

Amazon said in a statement that it does not allow the listing and sale of legally prohibited products, adding that it is taking strict action against sellers in case of any infraction.

“The matter has been reported to us and we are currently investigating,” Amazon said of the alleged marijuana smuggling.

In recent years, the Indian authorities have intensified their efforts to combat illegal drugs. Several prominent Indian TV actors and personalities have been under scrutiny from drug control officials since last year.

(Covering) Saurabh Sharma Writing by Sankalp Vartial, Editing by William MacLean

Our criteria: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.