Heroin worth Rs 70 cr seized; two African women arrested

Chennai, June 4 (PTI): About 10 kgs of heroin worth Rs 70 crore being smuggled into the country from South Africa was seized here and two African women were arrested in this connection, Customs officials said on Friday.

Acting on inputs, the officials on suspicion intercepted the two women who arrived from Johannesburg, an official release said.

One of them was using a wheel-chair despite appearing to be fit physically, the officials further interrogated the two and checked their baggage, the release said.

Eight plastic packets concealed in the baggage contained powder which was heroin.

''In total, 9.87 kgs of white coarse powder suspected to be heroin approximately valued at Rs 70 crore was recovered,'' the release said.

One of the women was travelling for medical treatment in New Delhi along with her attendant on a visa which was granted on the basis of communication from the hospital.

Due to the COVID-19 scare in New Delhi, the passengers landed in Chennai.

The women were arrested and further investigation was on, the release said.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)