Chennai, October 13: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), in collaboration with Chennai Customs, dismantled an international cocaine smuggling syndicate on Monday by seizing 5.6 kg of cocaine valued at approximately Rs 56 crore in the global market at Chennai airport.
Two Indian nationals—Himanshu Shah, 25, from Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, and Sahil Attri, 26, from Chamba, Himachal Pradesh—were apprehended after arriving on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa. The cocaine was concealed cleverly, wrapped like premium chocolates inside gold-plated cans and boxes.
Following a tip-off, officials from the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) intercepted the duo, conducted profiling, and scanned their baggage, uncovering the contraband. The drugs have been handed over to the NCB’s Chennai zonal unit for further investigation.
During interrogation, the accused revealed connections to a larger trafficking network operating across multiple cities, with Chennai airport serving as a transit hub. Acting on these leads, the NCB arrested an Indian national in Mumbai and a Nigerian national in Delhi, both believed to be integral to the syndicate. The Nigerian suspect was in India on a tourist visa.
This seizure follows a similar joint operation on August 23, when Chennai Customs and NCB recovered 2 kg of cocaine worth Rs 20 crore from a Nigerian woman at the same airport, underlining Chennai as a preferred channel for international drug cartels.
ADGP (Cybercrime) Sandeep Mittal urged citizens to remain vigilant against drug-related activities and highlighted the government’s Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan to promote a drug-free India.
Director-General of Police G. Venkataraman praised the officers involved in the operation.
The NCB is continuing its probe to uncover the financial networks and other members of this international trafficking syndicate.
