Contraband worth Rs. 3.74 crore was booked to Malaysia

The cancellation of a Malaysia Airlines flight from Bengaluru to Kuala Lumpur led to the detection of a consignment containing 24.4 kg of Methaqualone, a sedative and hypnotic drug, concealed in sarees at the Chennai airport on Thursday.

According to DRI sources, the consignment was diverted to the Air Cargo Complex in Chennai following the cancellation of the flight. Hours before it was to be taken for onward shipment to Malaysia in another flight, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, who were perusing a tip-off, unearthed the drug worth about Rs. 3.74 crore that was hidden in 12 carton boxes containing 424 sarees.

The white powdery substance, which investigators believe is Methaqualone, was stuffed in the walls of the boxes.

The consignment was seized in the presence of official witnesses, including a Malaysia Airlines official, and handed over to the Airport Warehouse of Customs for safe custody, the sources said.

Soon after the contraband was seized, DRI officials alerted their Bengaluru counterpart on the details of the consignor. However, the address of the sender was found to be fictitious. No such company existed in the name and at the address used for booking.

While trying to apprehend the consignor, efforts were on to unearth the source and supply network. The details of the consignee in Malaysia would be shared with relevant agencies for appropriate action, a DRI official said, adding that samples of Methaqualone would be sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory for analysis.

1,413 cases booked

In 2014, National Narcotics Control Bureau data reveals that 1,413 cases were booked in Tamil Nadu under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and a Ministry of Home Affairs report shows 38.51 kg of heroin, methamphetamine and other such narcotic substances were seized.