Based on specific intelligence, officers of DRI intercepted one male Venezuelan passenger suspected to be carrying drugs, at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai, on January 16, 2024.
On questioning the passenger, he admitted to have ingested capsules containing drugs and carrying the same in his body for smuggling into India. The passenger was produced before the Magistrate and as per the court order, he was admitted to the JJ Hospital, Mumbai.
A total of 57 capsules containing 628 grams of cocaine, valued at INR 6.2 Crores, were recovered from his body and seized on January 18, 2024, under the NDPS Act, 1985. The said passenger was arrested under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985 and remanded to judicial custody.
Further investigation is underway to trace other members of this international syndicate involved in illegal smuggling of drugs into India.