Chennai: Sri Lankan national sentenced to 10-year imprisonment for smuggling heroin
Chennai: The I additional special court for cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act) in Chennai has sentenced a Sri Lankan national to 10 years rigorous imprisonment on charges of attempt to smuggle heroin six years ago. Special judge K. Ayyappan, also imposed on him a fine of Rs 2 lakh. According to special public prosecutor N.P. Kumar, the personnel of Narcotics Control Bureau received a tip off that a few persons were planning to smuggle heroin from Chennai to Sri Lanka by a flight. The personnel conducted a search operation at Chennai airport on November 15, 2010.
They found that Mohamed Rikas, 23, of Colombo, was planning to board Jet Airways to reach Colombo. On checking his belongings, the personnel found 2 kg of heroin concealed in his baggage. During the interrogation, Rikas revealed that he came to Chennai on November 11, 2010, with an intention to smuggle contraband substance. Rikas allegedly received it from Ravi Master of Pattabiram. S. Raja, 34 of Choolaimedu and Nooruddeen Kamal, 61, and Pakhar, 46, of Sri Lanka were also involved in the network. The accused Kamal and Pakhar remained absconding. Ravi and Raja were acquitted as the prosecution failed to prove the case against the duo.
