Heroin hidden in soap boxes: Rs 30cr drugs seized at Ahmedabad airport

AHMEDABAD: The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the customs department at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) seized 6.8kg of heroin worth around Rs 30 crore from a passenger arriving from Malaysia on Monday.

The contraband was concealed in shape of soap in original-looking boxes, a method designed to hoodwink security agencies and evade x-ray screening. Acting on passenger profiling, AIU officers intercepted the male passenger, a native of Tamil Nadu, upon his arrival from Kuala Lumpur on Feb 9.

"On the basis of passenger profiling, officers of the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU), Ahmedabad customs, intercepted one male passenger arriving from Kuala Lumpur on Feb 9 at SVPI airport. Upon examination of the passenger's baggage, a total of 29 packets containing contraband narcotic substance were recovered," the customs department said in a release.

According to officials, the heroin was hidden in 26 soap boxes and three white envelopes. "The narcotics were ingeniously concealed in the form of natural soap and herbal soap bars, packed in original soap packaging boxes, although no actual soap ingredients were found. The contraband was further wrapped in silver foil and carbon paper to evade detection during x-ray screening," the release added.

The seized heroin was confiscated under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and the passenger was placed under arrest.

Sources said the preliminary investigation revealed that the passenger was allegedly promised money to carry the consignment and hand it over to a receiver outside the airport. However, he was apprehended before he could make contact.

"The packaging itself indicates the handiwork of an organised gang using carriers with no prior criminal record. It was triple-layered packing, keeping baggage scanning methods in mind," sources said, adding that investigators are now mapping the international route of the contraband and probing the network of senders and receivers behind the consignment.

BOX: Hydroponic ganja seized at Surat airport

Surat: The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the customs department at Surat International Airport seized 3.7kg of hydroponic ganja, valued at around Rs 3.75 crore, from a Bangkok–Surat flight on Monday. The contraband was found unclaimed on board, marking the second major seizure at the airport within three days.

Officials said that during a search of the aircraft, suspicious pouches were found concealed near the safety jackets placed beneath three seats. On opening the pouches, officers recovered seven vacuum-packed plastic packets wrapped in brown adhesive tape. Subsequent analysis confirmed the substance to be marijuana (hydroponic ganja).

A day earlier, on Sunday, the AIU arrested four persons and seized hydroponic ganja worth around Rs 6 crore. All the accused were natives of Uttar Pradesh. In both cases, the packets were packed in a similar manner. Officials noted that the vacuum-packed consignments occupied less space and were concealed in a way that allowed easy handling.