In yet another major haul of drugs at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), sleuths of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) here nabbed two men, in connection with two cases, while they attempted to smuggle ephedrine and ketamine valued at Rs. 2 crore in the international market to Malaysia. While ephedrine was concealed inside 45 travel pouches, ketamine was hidden inside a wet grinder.
DRI sources said that a passenger profiling was conducted at the airport early on Saturday following specific information that large quantities of Ephedrine was being smuggled to Kuala Lumpur via Bengaluru. A detailed check raised suspicion on a 43-year-old passenger from Chennai who checked-in a 20-kg luggage with a Malaysian Airlines flight. Interrogations revealed that he was carrying ephedrine weighing 5.3 kg valued at Rs. 1.06 crore in the international market. Sources said the contraband was painstakingly sealed inside 45 travel leather pouches with each holding 50 gm of the substance at the top and bottom of the leather cover. The drug smuggler, who arrived by bus from Chennai, was arrested. Sources said that investigations were on to identify the dealers who had given him the contraband and their links in Benglauru.
Ketamine seized
Meanwhile, a DRI team intercepted a 37-year-old man from Chennai at KIA on Friday night while he was waiting to board an Air Asia flight to Kuala Lumpur. A box containing a new wet grinder that was checked-in by the passenger was retrieved.
Dismantling of the grinder revealed 12.9 kg of ketamine under the motor area which was packed with thermocol and plastic and concealed carefully, sources said.
A DRI officer said that both men carrying the drugs are known to be from different gangs and suspected to have received the contraband upon their arrival in Bengaluru from some local persons possibly having links to a Malaysia drug racket.
