Passenger held at Mumbai airport with drugs worth Rs 52 crore

A foreign national passenger was arrested after 5.194 kgs of cocaine worth Rs 51.94 crore was recovered from him at the Mumbai international airport, Customs officials said on Tuesday, reported the PTI.

Based on specific information, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the Mumbai Customs intercepted a passenger, an overseas resident, at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) on Monday, an official said, according to the PTI.

During his personal search, four packets containing 5,194 grams (5.194 kgs) of cocaine were found ingeniously concealed in an ortho waist belt and calf guards, he said.

After interrogation, the foreign national was placed under arrest by the Customs under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act), the official said, adding further investigation was underway in the matter, the news agency reported.

Cocaine worth Rs 8.6 crore recovered from stomach of Ugandan national at Mumbai airport

In an another incident, last month, a customs official on Thursday said that pellets containing 866 grams of cocaine were recovered from the stomach of a Ugandan national after he was intercepted at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai, reported news agency PTI.

The passenger, who landed at Mumbai airport on the intermediate night of May 24 and 25, appeared uncomfortable during questioning which gave rise to suspicion, he said, reported PTI.

A medical examination showed that he had ingested yellow-coloured pellets.

After the pellets were removed through a medical procedure, they were found to contain a total of 886 grams of cocaine worth Rs 8.66 crore, reported PTI.

The man was subsequently arrested at Mumbai airport and further probe was on, the official said.

In another case, last month, the police have arrested a 23-year-old man after seizing hydro ganja valued at Rs 2.78 lakh from his possession in Maharashtra`s Navi Mumbai township, an official said on Thursday, reported PTI.

A police patrolling team spotted two men roaming suspiciously on a scooter below Jui bridge in the Vashi area in the wee hours of Tuesday.

The police intercepted them and during a search found hydro ganja concealed in the their vehicle, the official from Vashi police station said, reported PTI.

While one of the persons was apprehended, the other one managed to escape, he said.

(with PTI inputs)

This article first appeared on Mid Day