NCB intercepts drug smugglers who conceal contraband in stomach
07 Jan 2017
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has intercepted an international gang involved in the smuggling of drugs, with the arrest of a Brazilian woman in New Delhi on the eve of the New Year.
Acting on this task, Delhi Zonal Unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau had put its focus on the foreigners coming to Delhi through IGI Airport to supply drugs in Delhi NCR. On the intervening night of 30-31 December 2016, agency intercepted a Brazilian woman namely, Joseane Da Silva Antunes, aged about 38 years, at IGI Airport travelling by Etihad Airways from Sao Paulo to New Delhi via Abu Dhabi .
The agency had specific information of the passenger bearing swallowed cocaine capsules in her stomach. The woman was taken to Safdarjung Hospital for medical examination. During medical examination, it was confirmed that some foreign objects are concealed inside her stomach. The woman was admitted in the hospital and since then she has extracted total 65 capsules of drugs so far.
Acting further on intelligence source, on 4 January 2017, Delhi Zonal Unit of NCB intercepted an Afghan national, named Mohammad Qasem (50) at IGI Airport travelling by Kam Air from Herat to New Delhi via Kabul with swallowed Heroin capsules. The suspect was taken to Safdarjung Hospital for medical examination. The accused has since then extracted 90 capsules of drugs.
Both the accused are still under medical supervision. Necessary legal proceedings would be carried out only after their discharge. They are likely to extract more such capsules.
The agency said it is still on the lookout for more such swallowers coming to Delhi.
''This is a big jolt to the drug traffickers and the users of the drugs. All persons involved in the racket are being identified and action is being planned accordingly,'' an official release stated.
The method of swallowing drug capsules makes it a difficult job for NCB as the mechanism to identify any concealment inside body is difficult. The suspects are identified by applying profiling techniques.