A medical examination confirmed that the capsules contained 850 grammes of high-purity cocaine, estimated to be worth ₹15 crore in the international illicit market. (Representative image)
| Photo Credit: REUTERS
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 850 grammes of cocaine, worth an estimated ₹15 crore, at Chennai International Airport and arrested a 35-year-old Kenyan woman who allegedly smuggled the narcotic substance by swallowing capsules filled with the drug. Investigators suspect that she is linked to an international drug trafficking syndicate.DRI officers mounted surveillance at the airport on Monday after receiving information that a foreign national would arrive carrying narcotic substances on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa.The flight touched down at around 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday, following which officials intercepted the Kenyan national during passenger screening. She had travelled from Kenya to Chennai via Ethiopia on a tourist visa. During questioning, officers noticed discrepancies in her responses and decided to subject her to a more detailed examination.Although a thorough search of her luggage yielded no incriminating material, she was taken to the airport hospital for medical evaluation. An X-ray examination allegedly revealed several capsules concealed inside her stomach. With the assistance of doctors, officials recovered around 70 capsules from her body.Subsequent examination confirmed that the capsules contained 850 grammes of high-purity cocaine, estimated to be worth ₹15 crore in the international illicit market. The narcotic was seized, and the woman was arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.The DRI has launched a detailed investigation to identify the intended recipient of the cocaine in Chennai and trace other members of the international drug trafficking network involved in the smuggling operation. Published - June 30, 2026 09:34 pm IST
