Date:08/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/08/stories/2008020852520400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Flight recalled, 27 kg drug seized from passenger

V.S. Palaniappan

It is valued at Rs.2.5 crore in the international market

Silk Air flight was bound for Singapore
Drug concealed in polythene packets

Coimbatore: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Coimbatore, on Thursday seized 27 kg of Ketamine Hydrochloride from a Singapore-bound air passenger.

Based on a tip-off from P. Babu, Additional Director General of DRI, Chennai, a team from Coimbatore, comprising Senior Intelligence Officer N. Arunaasalam and Intelligence Officer A. Shanmugarajan, recalled the Silk Airlines flight immediately after it took off around midnight. The flight, which was detained for a few minutes, left at around 1.20 a.m.

The 27-year old passenger, on his way to Kuala Lampur, was carrying 26.607 kg of the drug chemical packed in sealed polythene packets bearing labels of branded detergent powder and idly and dosa powder packs.

The seized drug, valued at Rs.9 lakh in the local market, could fetch Rs.2.5 crore in the international market.

According to sources, the arrested person, suspected to be from Chennai, claimed to be Feroze Ahmed (27) of Coimbatore. He was reportedly offered Rs.5,000 by a Chennai-based person to smuggle the drug.

Investigations are on to ascertain the consignor and consignee and whether any international agency or network was involved.

The passenger was attempting to export the drug without a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from the Narcotics Commissioner, Gwalior, as notified by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

Abuse of ketamine (an essential veterinary anaesthetic substance) results in what is described as “out of body” or “near death” experience.

First attempt

According to sources, this was the first attempt by Chennai-based smugglers to smuggle drugs since the commencement of international operations from the Coimbatore airport.