Chennai: Customs officials at Chennai international airport seized 6.8kg of methaqualone (sedative-hypnotic drug), worth Rs 3.4 crore, on Sunday.
Officials of the courier intelligence unit of the air customs acted based on information that a parcel containing some narcotics drugs were likely to be smuggled out of the country through a courier in the guise of apparel accessories. They detained a parcel at a courier warehouse in the city.
The consignor had declared the parcel to contain ribbon rolls and other apparel accessories. On examination, the parcel was found to contain items as per declaration but the ribbon rolls were found to be unusually heavy. When the ribbons rolls were cut open, a hallow cavity was found inside in which plastic pouches containing white crystalline powder were concealed.
Total 57 plastics pouches were recovered from ribbons rolls containing a white crystalline powder.
The powder was tested with a narcotics testing kit. It prima facie tested positive for methaqualone. A total 6.815 kg of methaqualone, valued Rs. 3.4 crore, was seized under the NDPS Act, 1985.
The parcel was found to be booked by a Chennai-based person and was consigned to Australia. Searches were carried out at the address submitted by the consignor at the time of booking. The addresses were found to be fake. Efforts were being made to apprehend the consignor and to find the source of the seized drug.
Further investigations are on.
