Mumbai custom officials seized four kilogram drugs from a consignment on Saturday. The manager of the courier firm, which was supposed to deliver the cargo, was arrested by officials in the case. He was later produced in court and remanded to 14 days’ judicial custody.
While one more accused is wanted in the case, it is suspected that the consignment was to be smuggled to London.
A top official from SIIB (Special Intelligence and Investigation Branch), which conducted the operation, said that acting on a tip-off about the consignment, they along with officers of Airport Special Cargo intercepted the consignment in the premises of M/s Total Courier and Cargo Services Pvt Limited located at Koldongri in Andheri east.
The official informed this newspaper that examination of the consignment resulted in recovery of 4.070 kg of white crystalline powder purported to be amphetamine with an illicit market value of Rs 40.7 lakh. The amphetamine was stored in small pouches, which were concealed inside 25 cycle seats.
Confirming the seizure, principal commissioner A.P.S. Suri informed that SIIB officials arrested one Edward Rodrigues, who is the manager of the firm, in the case while the proprietor is absconding. SIIB officials suspect this is not the first instance the firm has indulged in smuggling of illicit goods and are probing into the matter.
SIIB, which looks after intelligence in courier cell and air parcel office of Mumbai airport, was created out of Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of customs last year. According to a top officer, this amphetamine seizure was the biggest drug seizure of this year by this unit.
