Bengaluru: A passenger was arrested at the Kempegowda International Airport by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officials on Wednesday night, after he was found smuggling 10 kg of ephedrine drug, worth Rs 2 crore in the international market.
The accused has been identified as Mujibur Rahman Naina Mohamed, a resident of Chennai. According to the NCB officials, he was supposed to take Malaysian Airlines flight no. MH 193 for Kuala Lumpur.
The contraband was found in his checked-in baggage in which 35 school bags were stuffed with 10 kgs of Ephedrine. The bag was checked-in with the airlines, after which he was intercepted.
“During examination, the accused disclosed that he has been smuggling drugs to various countries like Sri Lanka and Malaysia. The drug was seized and the accused was arrested on Thursday after necessary examination under NDPS Act,” an official said.
Ephedrine is a precursor chemical mainly used to manufacture several lethal psychotropic substances such as methamphetamine, which is banned under NDPS Act.
Ephedrine, however, due to some of its therapeutic use in pharmaceutical industry, has been declared as a controlled substance under the NDPS Act. Illicit trafficking or smuggling of ephedrine attracts a punishment up to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fine under the NDPS Act.
