Man with 3 kg drugs held at IGI airport

A Trichy resident has been arrested by Customs officials at the IGI airport here for allegedly possessing over three kg of ketamine, worth Rs. 30 lakh in black market.

A Trichy resident has been arrested by Customs officials at the IGI airport here for allegedly possessing over three kg of ketamine, worth Rs. 30 lakh in black market.

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Mohideen Bhaseer, resident of Trichy in Tamil Nadu, was caught on Wednesday by Airport Customs with 3.16 kg of ketamine, Customs official said.

While scanning the baggage of the passenger, who was leaving for Kuala Lumpur by a Malaysian Airline flight, goods were found concealed in the false bottom of his baggage.

"On detailed examination, 3.16 kg of Ketamine (worth over Rs. 30 lakh) was found concealed in pouches made of white colour cloth in the false cavity created at the bottom of baggage," said Arun Kumar, Additional Commissioner, Customs (IGI airport T-3).

"The passenger has been arrested," Kumar said.

One kilogram of Ketamine is valued at about Rs. 10 lakh in international market, the Customs official said.

Last month, Customs officials had arrested two passengers, who were residents of Chennai, with 10 kg of ketamine while they were departing to Kuala Lumpur.

"There is a huge demand of ketamine in countries like Malaysia. Also, it is further smuggled to other countries at a very high rate," a Customs official said.

Ketamine is used as a general anaesthetic to prevent pain and discomfort during certain medical tests or procedures, or minor surgery. However, the substance is misused by many party revellers as drug.