Customs scores another victory: Heroin worth Rs 126 crore seized at Delhi airport

Two South African passengers have been arrested from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport for trying to smuggle in 18 kg of heroin valued at Rs 126 crore.  

According to a Customs statement, officers at the IGI Airport booked a case of smuggling of off-white coloured powder/granules tested to be heroin on June 27, 2021. 

The two passengers had arrived at Terminal 3 of the IGI Airport from Johannesburg via Doha on Qatar Airways Flight QR 578. They were intercepted after they had crossed the green channel and were approaching the exit gate of the international arrival hall. 

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On a detailed search, heroin weighing 8 kg was recovered from one of the passengers, while heroin weighing 10 kg was recovered from the other. Both the passengers were found to be part of a syndicate. 

The heroin was seized from two South African passengers coming from Johannesburg via Doha. Image courtesy: Customs

The drugs were concealed inside the checked-in trolley bags of the passengers. When the recovered substance was subjected to the drug detection kit, prima facie it appeared to contain heroin, the Customs statement said. 

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The heroin was seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 and Customs Act, 1962. The passengers were arrested under Section 43(b) of the NDPS Act, 1985, read with Section 104 of the Customs Act, 1962. Further investigation is underway.