The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has caught a man from Tanzania and a woman from Angola and seized 8 kg of cocaine from the duo worth Rs 80 crore in a late-night operation at the Hyderabad International Airport on May 1, according to an official statement released today.

“Acting on specific intelligence, the DRI officers apprehended a male Tanzanian national, travelling from Cape Town to Hyderabad via Dubai on a Business Visa and a lady passenger from Angola, with itinerary Angola – Mozambique – Lusaka – Dubai – Hyderabad on a Tourist Visa on suspicion of them carrying narcotic substances,” the DRI statement said.

Each passenger was carrying 4 kg of cocaine in the packets concealed in the false bottom of their trolley bags. The estimated value of the 8 kg of cocaine that has been seized has a street value of Rs. 80 crore, according to the DRI statement.

The instances of smuggling drugs on international flights have increased with the easing of restrictions on air travel and increased passenger traffic.

Smugglers are also devising ingenious ways of transporting the contraband such as laminating drugs finely into their baggage which are almost invisible to the naked eye or by concealing them in shampoos and food items. They have also been resorting to swallowing drugs in laminated capsules which get lodged in their stomach and have to be recovered through a medical procedure. 

Multiple cases involving seizure of cocaine concealed in the form of pills ingested by air passengers have been booked by the DRI in the last four months. In two such cases in Mumbai during March and April 2022, a total of 2.42 kg of Cocaine was found concealed in pills ingested by two passengers.

Also read: Rs 450 crore worth Afghan heroin seized at Pipavav port in Gujarat