MUMBAI: A 31-year-old Zambian national was caught by the Directorate Revenue of Intelligence for smuggling 700 grams of cocaine worth Rs 7.50 crore.
This is the second seizure of drugs by the DRI Mumbai.
Last week the DRI had arrested another Zambian national in a case of seizure of 3 kgs worth Rs 30 crore of heroin at Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport at Mumbai.
Officials said that such successive seizures of narcotics substances indicate desperation of narco gangs to smuggle drugs inside India even during the period when the frequency of international flights is reduced due to Covid-lockdown.
The supply side is adversely impacted during lockdown and cocaine being a drug of choice for the elite commands a higher price during such times.
The DRI arrested Emile Mulinde, who was travelling from Addis Ababa to Mumbai on Thursday.
The officials on the suspicion apprehended her at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai.
She was booked under the NDPS act, produced before the local court and remanded to jail custody July 8.
The officials said that on specific intelligence the DRI officials on Thursday detained Emeli who had arrived by Ethiopian Airways flight from Addis Ababa to Mumbai.
Officials said that she was carrying a black colour luggage back in which she had a specially stitched pocket in her brown ladies purse kept inside her checked-in baggage.
On tearing that open 700 Gms of white colored powder wrapped in blue colored packaging was recovered.
“The material recovered tested positive for the presence of Cocaine, valued at Rs 7.35 crore in the illicit market.
The recovered Cocaine was seized under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985,” said an official.
During the course of preliminary investigation, it was found that the package was handed over to her in Addis Ababa and was supposed to be delivered in Mumbai for monetary consideration.
She said that she was very poor and used to do petty work for livelihood.
One lady, Emilia Phiri offered to smuggle the cocaine in India and in return she promised to give her 5,000 USD in addition to sponsoring her trip to India.
She said that she was aware that she was carrying drugs.
The DRI officials suspect that she is the part of an international drug syndicate which is smuggling narcotic drugs through mules by way of concealment in body and luggage.