Customs officials in Mumbai arrested a foreign national who was trying to smuggle cocaine worth Rs 7.5 crore into India by concealing them in his stomach. The accused foreigner was arrested recently at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
According to the Customs department, based on the spot-profiling method, one foreign passenger (of an African nation), who arrived via Flight No UR430 on April 9, was intercepted at the airport.
Since the passenger exhibited signs of nervousness and uneasiness during questioning, suspicion grew on him.
He was detained and after duly securing court’s permission, the officials admitted him to Sir JJ Hospital, where during initial examination doctors confirmed existence of some foreign articles in his stomach. During his stay at the hospital, he purged certain capsules suspected to be containing drugs.
“The passenger had swallowed multiple yellow-coloured pellets, which were later found to contain white-coloured crumbled substance purported to be cocaine,” a Customs official said.
On Sunday, officials seized contraband purported to be cocaine having a net weight of 785 grams approximately valued at Rs 7.85 crore, the officer added. The accused admitted to have smuggled the narcotics for a hefty commission.
The foreigner has been placed under arrest as per the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985.
Investigators are trying to obtain details about foreign-based handlers and associates and also members of the local racket who were supposed to collect the contraband from him.
Customs officials are also checking whether he had smuggled narcotics to India in the past.
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