BENGALURU: In a yet newer modus operandi, international drug cartels are using children’s fairytale books for transnational smuggling of high grade contraband. The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU), Customs, on a credible tipoff, arrested a Chilean national and seized around 7.7kg of high-grade cocaine concealed in fairytale books in Spanish, at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). The alleged mule, aged 70, was apprehended at the Customs arrival hall of T2 at 10.30am Wednesday.
According to informed sources, the AIU intercepted the Chilean national, who had arrived by Ethiopian Airlines ET-690 from Addis Ababa. “He was reportedly handed the cocaine consignment at Sao Paulo. He boarded the flight from the Brazilian city to Addis Ababa enroute to Bengaluru. The consignment was meant for delivery in Bengaluru. The accused had no onward travel booked,” said sources. “He speaks only Spanish and refuses to divulge much.”
“On examination of his registered baggage, the AIU team found cocaine concealed in packets in children’s fairytale books in Spanish. The consignment contained a little over 3kg of white powder and 4.5kg of black powder.
Field testing kit (FTK) of the powders confirmed it to be cocaine,” said sources. Black cocaine, or coca negra, is a mixture of cocaine base/hydrochloride with charcoal, dyes, or charcoal to camouflage its appearance, evade sniffer dogs and detection.
In the grey market in India, cocaine sells between Rs 5crore and Rs 10crore per kg, depending on demand and quality. “The seized contraband is found to be high grade,” said sources.