Chennai: Officials of the Air Cargo Intelligence Unit (ACIU), Chennai Customs, have seized 49.2 kg of pseudoephedrine valued at Rs 9.86 crore from an UAE-bound export consignment at the Air Cargo complex and arrested three people in this connection.
An official release here said based on specific information, ACIU officials
intercepted an export consignment comprising 25 cartons with gross
weight 750 kgs and contents declared as ‘100% cotton knitted shirts’
destined to United Arab Emirates (UAE).
On opening and examination, it was found that each package contained
48 shirts. Consequently, the shirts were opened one by one by the officers.
Each shirt was supported by a packaging material made of paper board white
in colour.
It was observed by the officers that some of the paper board packaging
materials were bulging and heavy whereas others were flat. They cut
open the bulged packing support material of one shirt and found white
crystalline powder substance concealed inside.
The white crystalline substance tested positive for pseudoephedrine, a
narcotic and psychotropic substance, notified under NDPS Act, 1985.
The export of pseudoephedrine is restricted and allowed with proper license from Central Bureau of Narcotics, Gwalior.
Out of a total of 1200 shirts, in 515 shirts the white powder was found to be
concealed inside the paper board packing support. The white crystalline
substance obtained from all the packaging material was tested and found
positive for pseudoephedrine.
In all 49.2 kgs of pseudoephedrine worth Rs 9.86 crore in international
market was recovered.
The consignment i.e. both pseudoephedrine and the packing materials was seized for further investigation under NDPS Act, 1985.
Three persons who were involved and played various roles in this attempt
to smuggle out narcotics and psychotropic substance were arrested and
remanded to judicial custody. Further investigations are under progress.