Mumbai: African woman held for bid to smuggle drug

A woman from Mozambique was on Wednesday arrested from the Mumbai International Airport for allegedly trying to smuggle out 15 kgs of Methaqualone drug valued at Rs 7.50 crore in the international market to Republic of Botswana, customs officials said.

A woman from Mozambique was on Wednesday arrested from the Mumbai International Airport for allegedly trying to smuggle out 15 kgs of Methaqualone drug valued at Rs 7.50 crore in the international market to Republic of Botswana, customs officials said.

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Accused Mwendlane Catia Daclesa Francisco (22) was intercepted by Customs Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) while she was to depart to Gaborone in Republic of Botswana via Nairobi on a Kenya Airways flight at about 1am, the officials said.

"After checking her luggage, white coloured Methaqualone drugs was recovered. The quantity is 15 kg valued at 7.50 crore," Rishi Yadav, assistant commissioner of the AIU said.

Mwendlane was subsequently arrested under the provisions of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and further investigation is on.

She came from Delhi last night and was scheduled to take a flight at 1am, Yadav said, adding, "She was just a carrier and not a smuggler." On Monday, the customs had nabbed an Indian passenger with 1.74 kgs of Ketamine drug valued at Rs 17.45 lakh at the airport and the consignment was meant to be smuggled to Malaysia.

According to the customs, there is a demand for drugs in the European countries and the contraband is usually smuggled to these places through African countries.