Major Drug Bust at Ahmedabad Airport: Heroin Worth Rs 30 Crore Seized
The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the customs department at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad made a significant narcotics seizure on Monday, confiscating 6.8 kilograms of heroin with an estimated street value of approximately Rs 30 crore. The contraband was discovered from a male passenger who had just arrived from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Sophisticated Concealment Method Uncovered
According to an official release from the customs department, the heroin was ingeniously concealed within what appeared to be ordinary soap boxes. A total of 29 packets containing the narcotic substance were recovered from the passenger's baggage during a thorough examination.
The packaging method was specifically designed to bypass security protocols:
- The heroin was molded into bars resembling natural and herbal soap
- These bars were placed in original-looking soap packaging boxes (26 boxes in total)
- Three additional white envelopes also contained the substance
- The entire consignment was wrapped in silver foil and carbon paper to evade detection during X-ray screening
Officials noted that despite the authentic appearance of the packaging, no actual soap ingredients were found within the boxes.
Passenger Profiling Leads to Interception
The breakthrough came when AIU officers, acting on passenger profiling techniques, intercepted the Tamil Nadu native upon his arrival from Malaysia on February 9. The customs department stated that the passenger was apprehended based on suspicious indicators identified through their profiling system.
Organized Gang Involvement Suspected
Sources familiar with the investigation revealed that the triple-layered packing method indicates the involvement of an organized criminal network. The packaging was specifically designed with baggage scanning methods in mind, suggesting sophisticated knowledge of airport security protocols.
Preliminary investigations suggest the passenger was allegedly promised monetary compensation to transport the consignment and deliver it to a receiver outside the airport premises. However, he was arrested before making any contact with potential recipients.
The seized heroin has been confiscated under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and the passenger remains in custody. Investigators are now working to map the international route of the contraband and identify the network of senders and receivers involved in this smuggling operation.
Related Drug Seizure in Surat
In a separate but related development, the Air Intelligence Unit at Surat International Airport seized 3.7 kilograms of hydroponic ganja valued at approximately Rs 3.75 crore from a Bangkok-Surat flight on the same day. The contraband was found unclaimed on board the aircraft, concealed near safety jackets beneath three seats.
Officials recovered seven vacuum-packed plastic packets wrapped in brown adhesive tape, with subsequent analysis confirming the substance to be marijuana. This marked the second major seizure at Surat airport within three days, following another incident on Sunday where four persons from Uttar Pradesh were arrested with hydroponic ganja worth around Rs 6 crore.
In both Surat cases, the packets were packed in a similar manner using vacuum-sealing techniques that reduced the consignment's size and allowed for easier concealment and handling.
