City on a high, Ecstasy worthRs 1.6 crore seized by Customs

Air Customs detained two postal parcels suspected to contain narcotics for examination, and upon opening the first parcel, which had come from Belgium, found it to be stuffed with artificial leopard fabric and other items. On unwrapping the fabric, nine black pouches were found inside.

Inside the pouches, orange colour Ecstasy (MDMA) pills with marking Red Bull and Heineke were found concealed. A total of 4,060 Ecstasy pills, valued at Rs 1.2 crore, were recovered and seized under the NDPS Act. The parcel was addressed to a person in Kancheepuram district. As a follow-up action, a search was carried out at the consignee address, which was found to be fake.

The second parcel from The Netherlands contained inflatable pool, snacks and gummy bear packets. On cutting open them, skull-shaped Ecstasy pills with marking My Brand were found concealed. Further, two pouches containing MDMA crystals and Methaqualone powder were found concealed inside the inflatable pool. A total of 1,150 Ecstasy pills, 100 grams of MDMA crystals and one gram of Methaqualone powder valued Rs 45 lakh was recovered and seized under the NDPS Act.

The parcel was addressed to a person in Andhra Pradesh. As a follow-up action, a search was carried out at the address and the officials found that he had already been arrested in an offence of drug smuggling by Chennai Air Customs.

A total of 5,210 Ecstasy pills, 100 grams of MDMA crystals and one gram of Methaqualone valued at Rs 1.65 crore were recovered and seized under the NDPS Act.