Date:01/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/01/stories/2008070156220800.htm

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

Officials seize drug worth Rs.3 lakh

Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI: Officials of the Air Customs seized around 8.5 kilograms of ketamine hydrochloride concealed in a consignment of vegetable cargo at the Tiruchi Airport here on Sunday.

Airport sources here said Air Customs officials were scanning the vegetable and fruit cargo which was to be sent to Malaysia by a Sri Lankan flight from here.

The cargo was originally sent from Madurai.

Ketamine, a rave drug, was kept in polythene covers and concealed by making cavities in 23 yams.

The value of the seized substance was put at Rs. 3.01 lakh.

The sources said samples of the seized substance had been sent to Chennai for chemical testing.

The consignment was booked by a cargo agency near Musiri in the district. Further investigations are on.

Efforts are being made to trace out the person who had sent the cargo from Madurai.