Kochi: In the third major seizure in the last three days, nearly 20 kg of “stimulant” drug ephedrine worth Rs 30 crore in the international market was seized from a Zimbabwean national on Saturday.
The arrested was identified as Cellia Dhomingo (35) and was scheduled to fly by the Qatar Airways Flight 515 from Kochi to Doha.
“The flight was to depart at 4 am. Based on a tip-off, we zeroed in on the woman and examined her baggage.
The white powder drug was found concealed inside secret cavities of her two checked-in bags,” a Customs official said. The woman arrived in Delhi about 10 days ago on a tourist visa.
Officials suspect she may have procured the massive quantity of ephedrine from Delhi. She came to Kochi five days ago. “The drug is available cheaply in the Indian market. She procured it for nearly Rs three crore but it is worth Rs 30 crore in the international market.
Meanwhile, a woman who is from Tamil Nadu, was held at the airport late on Friday evening and Rs 7.5 lakh cash was seized from her. Customs officials are probing whether she was acting as a carrier for a hawala gang. The woman was scheduled to fly to Kuala Lumpur. Further probe is on.
