4 foreign nationals held at CSMIA with cocaine worth ₹11 cr

Four Ethiopians were arrested at Mumbai airport for smuggling 2.25 kg of cocaine, valued at ₹11.25 crore, by ingesting capsules.

MUMBAI: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested four Ethiopian nationals in two separate operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) after they were found carrying 2.25 kg of cocaine valued at ₹11.25 crore in the international illicit market.

4 foreign nationals held at CSMIA with cocaine worth ₹11 cr

According to DRI officials, all four accused had ingested capsules containing cocaine to smuggle the contraband into India.

In the latest operation on Friday, DRI officers intercepted an Ethiopian man and woman who had arrived from Addis Ababa. During questioning, the duo admitted to having swallowed capsules containing narcotic substances.

The two were admitted to a government hospital, where officials recovered 84 capsules containing 1.4 kg of cocaine valued at around ₹7 crore.

In an earlier operation conducted on May 19, DRI officials intercepted another Ethiopian man and woman arriving from Addis Ababa. During interrogation, both admitted to ingesting capsules filled with narcotic drugs.

Subsequently, they were taken to a government hospital, where 63 capsules containing 850 grams of cocaine, valued at approximately ₹4.25 crore, were recovered.