New Delhi: In a first, officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Wednesday seized 3.22 kg of 'black cocaine' from a Brazilian national at Ahmedabad airport. The designer drug was estimated to be worth Rs 32 crore.
According to the finance ministry, working on the intelligence gathered, DRI officers intercepted a Brazilian national travelling from Sau Paulo to Ahmedabad International Airport, who was trying to smuggle cocaine into India.
The said passenger was travelling on a tourist visa.
A finance ministry statement said, "The material was examined by a team of Forensic Science lab officers with specialized field-testing kit which showed presence of Cocaine. Accordingly, 3.22 kg of the substance was seized under provisions of the NDPS Act 1985. The passenger accepted his active role in smuggling of Cocaine and was arrested."
Ministry in its statement said that although the passenger's trolley and cabin bag did not reveal any concealment, however, it was observed that the base and walls of the bag had an unusually thick rubbery material and were turning granular on applying pressure.
'Black cocaine' is a designer drug wherein cocaine is mixed with charcoal and other chemicals to give it black rubbery appearance to camouflage and to evade detection by Canines and field-testing kit.
This modus operandi to smuggle cocaine is unique and this is the first instance of seizure of 'Black Cocaine' by DRI, the ministry added.