Chennai: A Kenyan woman was arrested at Chennai Airport after ingesting 90 capsules filled with cocaine, valued at ₹14.2 crore, according to customs officials. The arrest occurred on December 7 after she arrived at the airport on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.
Customs officials, acting on specific intelligence, intercepted the woman and, with medical assistance, she expelled the 90 cylindrical objects. The capsules, which were initially thought to be harmless, were later confirmed to contain cocaine, a highly addictive and illegal substance covered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Upon further investigation, the total weight of the cocaine recovered amounted to 1.4 kg.
This high-value drug seizure highlights ongoing efforts by Indian authorities to curb the influx of illegal substances through the country’s major international airports. Officials have praised the timely action taken by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) at Chennai Airport, who acted on credible intelligence to successfully intercept the woman before the drugs could reach their intended destination.
Following her arrest, the Kenyan woman was immediately remanded into judicial custody. Authorities are now conducting further investigations to determine the larger network behind the trafficking operation and to identify any potential collaborators. The woman has not yet disclosed further details about her involvement or the source of the drugs.
In a separate incident on December 10, a member of Air India’s cabin crew was arrested for assisting a passenger in smuggling 1.7 kg of 24-carat gold into Chennai. The gold, concealed in compound form, was found hidden in the undergarments of the cabin crew member after customs officials intercepted both the crew member and the passenger upon their arrival from Dubai. The gold’s value is estimated to be several crores.
The passenger reportedly admitted to handing over the gold to the crew member during the flight, leading to a thorough investigation by customs officials. Both the crew member and the passenger are now in judicial custody, and authorities are further examining their involvement in a broader smuggling operation.
This case marks another significant blow to efforts to combat smuggling at Chennai Airport, which has increasingly become a hotspot for illegal activities. The latest arrests follow a series of similar incidents involving gold and drug smuggling in recent months, underscoring the persistent efforts of customs and law enforcement agencies to tackle such activities.
Air India, however, has yet to issue a public statement regarding the involvement of their staff member in this illegal activity. Customs officials have assured that both cases will be thoroughly investigated to uncover any networks or larger smuggling syndicates operating through the airport.
As authorities continue to clamp down on smuggling activities, these high-profile arrests send a strong message to both international and domestic criminals attempting to exploit air travel for illegal gain.