Cocaine worth Rs 3 cr seized from chocolate date box at Delhi airport

A South African national was arrested at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi international airport for allegedly carrying cocaine worth Rs 3 crore hidden in a chocolate date box

A South African national was arrested at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi international airport for allegedly carrying cocaine worth Rs 3 crore hidden in a chocolate date box.

The recovered white crystalline powder weighing around 595 gms is believed to be cocaine with an estimated value of approximately Rs 3 crore in international market. HT photo

The woman passenger travelling with Emirates from Dubai arrived at the IGI Airport on Wednesday when Customs officials stopped her for checking ‘based on a specific input’.

“Detailed examination of her baggage and a personal search resulted in recovery of a white crystalline powder suspected to be cocaine. It was concealed in an octagonal box of “Nadiya” brand luxury chocolate dates in the form of pellets covered with transparent plastic tape,” said Sanjay Mangal, commissioner of customs.

“The recovered white crystalline powder weighing around 595 gms is believed to be cocaine with an estimated value of approximately Rs 3 crore in international market,” he said.

An official said the passenger was arrested and further investigation was in process.

In a separate case, a passenger from Muscat was arrested for smuggling gold. According to an official, the passenger was stopped for checking after he crossed the green channel.

“Five gold chains weighing 1105 gms was recovered from his pocket. A case has been registered,” said an official. The value of the seized gold is over R 33 lakh.