Brazilian held at Mumbai airport with ₹11cr cocaine in stomach
What's the story
A Brazilian woman was arrested at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai for trying to smuggle cocaine into the country.
The woman was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on the basis of specific intelligence regarding her illegal activities.
Upon interrogation, she admitted to swallowing around 100 capsules of the narcotic substance.
Medical intervention
Cocaine capsules recovered from smuggler under medical supervision
After her confession, the woman was taken to a nearby government hospital. Under medical supervision, some 100 capsules containing 1,096gm of cocaine were removed from her body.
The seized cocaine is estimated to be worth around ₹10.96 crore in the illicit market.
The DRI has formally seized the narcotics under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Legal proceedings
Smuggler faces charges under NDPS Act, investigations underway
The Brazilian national now faces several charges under the NDPS Act, including smuggling a commercial quantity of drugs. The offense could land her in prison for 20 years.
Meanwhile, investigations are underway to trace her handler and any accomplices involved in this drug trafficking operation. The DRI is trying to ascertain who was supposed to collect the drugs from her on her arrival in India.