Officials at the Mumbai Airport seized approximately 2.5 kg of cocaine worth Rs 25 crore from a passenger. An intelligence tip led officials to infer that narcotic drugs were being smuggled into India by a passenger travelling from Addis Ababa to Mumbai. The passenger and his companion were apprehended.
A team of officers from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted the surveillance at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja International (CSMI) Airport. According to reports, the suspected passenger was apprehended by a team of DRI officers in the early hours of February 27.
According to a spokesperson for the Unit, surveillance was mounted at the airport based on "certain intelligence" that narcotic drugs were being carried into India by a passenger travelling from Addis Ababa to Mumbai.
"In the early hours of February 27th, the suspected passenger was intercepted by a team of DRI officers, and a thorough search of the passenger's baggage resulted in the recovery of 2.58 kg of Cocaine concealed in 12 soap bars carried by the said passenger within his trolley bag," the statement said.
A comprehensive inspection of the passenger's luggage revealed 2.58 kg of cocaine disguised in 12 soap bars carried by the passenger inside his trolley bag. The contraband's illicit international market value exceeds Rs 25 crores.
In order to quickly catch the ultimate beneficiary, the officers set a trap and apprehended him. The passenger and the beneficiary were both arrested and sent to DRI custody. The situation is currently being investigated further.
Earlier this month, the DRI discovered 3360 grammes of cocaine from an Indian individual who arrived in Mumbai from Addis Ababa. DRI arrested the alleged drug smuggler at Mumbai airport, and cocaine worth Rs 33.60 crore was discovered. Cocaine was allegedly hidden beneath the wax coating of soaps, according to a report by Times Now.
(With Inputs From Agencies)