Mumbai: DRI busts drug trafficking attempt, Ugandan woman arrested with cocaine

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence DRI Mumbai busted a drug trafficking attempt by a woman an Ugandan national and seized cocaine worth Rs 8 crore in the operation the ANI reported on WednesdayAccording to an official statement released by the DRI the Ugandan national was arrested at Mumbai Airport on December 19 and sent to judicial custody as per the ANIThe statement said that she adopted a unique modus operandi to smuggle narcotic substances She concealed them inside her hair wig and undergarment worn by herIn the operation conducted in the early hours of December 19 officers of DRI Mumbai Zonal Unit recovered a total of 890 grams of cocaine valued at Rs 89 crores approximately in the illicit market from a female Ugandan national The female passenger was bringing drugs into the country by concealing the same inside the hair wig and bra pads worn by her DRI Mumbai said in a press release according to the ANIThe contraband was seized under the provisions of the NDPS Act 1985The DRI as a drugs enforcement agency has busted numerous modus operandi ranging from concealment methods like sanitary pads concealment liquid cocaine in whisky bottles black cocaine cocaine in moisturizer bottles etcMeanwhile in an another incident the DRI Mumbai nabbed a man an Indian national suspected of smuggling narcotics into the country the officials said on MondayCocaine found in the operation was seized by the officials It weighs approximately 4 kilos and is worth Rs 40 crore the officials saidThe suspect who had recently arrived from Sierra Leone was meticulously identified and intercepted at a hotel near Mumbai Airport Intensive efforts led to the discovery of two concealed packets containing a white powdery substance during a thorough examination of the suspects luggage in his hotel room The ingenious concealment was found in both the upper and lower compartments of the suspects trolley bag they saidldquoThe travel documents in possession of the suspect indicated that the bag had accompanied him throughout his journey from Sierra Leone to Mumbai Upon testing with a field testing kit the recovered powdery substance tested positive for cocaine a narcotic drug covered under the NDPS Act 1985 The seized drugs are being processed under the provisions of the NDPS Act 1985 and the accused has been promptly arrested and remanded to judicial custodyrdquo an officials saidAn investigation is underway to locate and apprehend key members of the alleged drug syndicate The successful operation highlights the DRIs capabilities as an enforcement agency adept at dismantling various modus operandi employed in drug trafficking the official saidldquoThe agencys dedication and roundtheclock availability ensure swift responses to emerging situations fostering a more effective and proactive approach to maintaining public safety and combating criminal activitiesrdquo the DRI said in a statementwith ANI inputs