Kochi: In a major seizure, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officials seized two kg cocaine worth nearly Rs 10 crore from a Latin American national who arrived at the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) from Brazil via Dubai on Tuesday. Johnny Alexander Duran Sola (35), an El Salvador national, was intercepted by a team of sleuths from the NCB Cochin sub-zone unit at the international terminal exit while acting on specific information. He arrived by an Emirates flight (EK 532) from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil via Dubai that landed here at 2.50 am.
Upon inspection of his baggage, the cocaine was found concealed inside covers of branded soap available in Brazil. "Out of the 13 soap covers, 12 of them were filled with the narcotic stuff while one was original soap,” a senior NCB official said. The accused was taken to Kochi office of the NCB and was being interrogated to gather details such as where and whom the consignment was meant for, whether any help was received from the airport staff or personnel among others.
“The seized cocaine is of pure form and was found to be sourced from the cocaine production belt in South America though the trafficker belongs to central American country. Johnny is suspected to be working at the behest of a cocaine cartel based in South America. The trafficker was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985,” the officer said.
Further probe is underway. Earlier on January 1, the NCB seized 4.5 kgs of cocaine worth Rs 25 crore from a Filipino woman from the airport. In November, the NCB had arrested a Paraguayan national with 3.6 kilograms of cocaine and about one and half months later, they picked up a Venezuelan national with over one kilogram of the contraband in his tummy.
