Flyer conceals cocaine worth ₹33.60-cr in soaps; caught

Based on specific intelligence, DRI Mumbai officials detained the suspect who arrived from Addis Ababa to Mumbai on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET-640. When his luggage was searched, the officials found 16 small soap boxes and upon a thorough examination of the soap boxes

Mumbai: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Wednesday detained an Indian national from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for allegedly smuggling 3.36 kilogram of cocaine worth ₹33.60 crore from Addis Ababa by an Ethiopian Airlines flight. The accused person had concealed the narcotics inside soap bars.

Flyer conceals cocaine worth ₹33.60-cr in soaps; caught

Based on specific intelligence, DRI Mumbai officials detained the suspect who arrived from Addis Ababa to Mumbai on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET-640. When his luggage was searched, the officials found 16 small soap boxes and upon a thorough examination of the soap boxes, officers observed that something was concealed beneath the upper wax-like layer of the soap.

On removing the outer layer, officials found cocaine hidden in the soap bars - wrapped in transparent plastic, a DRI officer said. The total recovered substance is 3,360 grams which are valued at approximately ₹33.60 crore in the illicit market, the officer added.

DRI officials are questioning the passenger and trying to obtain information about the consignment and other members of the racket.