Arun M By

KOCHI: In recent years, Kochi has grown into a neo-modern city, courtesy the presence of top class facilities and international air connectivity. But scratch the seal, the glitz fades into a darker shade.

The drug rackets comprising African nationals and Delhi as their epicentre prefer Kochi to traffic drugs to Europe and Australia.

The arrest of 40-year-old Judee Micthele, an African national, with drugs worth `8 crore, revealed to the investigators that the drug cartels have been smuggling banned substances via courier and speed post to foreign destinations. The drugs have often been concealed in low value goods such as bangles, purses, apparels, footwear, pen stands and kids’ table. Micthele’s case too was no different. A detailed examination led to the recovery of whitish brown powder and colourless crystalline flakes hidden in the aforementioned goods. Later, it was found out to be Heroine (4005 gm) and Methamphetamine (300 gm).

“It was for the first time Methamphetamine, a highly expensive drug, is seized in the state. The recovered substance is valued at approximately `1 cr in international market.

One gram of the drug costs $80 and possessing more than 5 gm is a non-bailable offence under NDPS Act. The destinations of the seized drugs are the Netherlands, Greece, Spain and Australia. The source of the contraband is unknown,” said C Padmarajan, Superintendent, Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, Kochi. The anonymity of sender, consignment rip off at destinations before customs clearance, involvement of courier companies and collusion of employees make trafficking through couriers a less riskier option.

Micthele, A Repeat Offender

Micthele, who currently has a passport issued by Republic of Benin, had booked a parcel earlier with another passport issued by Republic of Sierra Leone in 2012 under the name - Bobson Sesay. Officials said Kochi’s easy connnectivity has made it a preferred point of drug dealers.