New Delhi: More than 25 cases have been reported this year at IGI airport where Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) detected drugs, foreign currencies and other illegal items from the possession of foreign nationals. The security force also nabbed foreigners who were overstaying in India or using fake travel documents.
According to CISF data accessed by Millennium Post, till October 6, about 128.4 kg of drugs worth over Rs 23 crore was seized in eight cases at IGI airport. In one of the cases, CISF authorities at the IGI Airport had seized 14 kg of pseudoephedrine, worth Rs 14 lakh, hidden inside bed sheets, from a foreign national.
According to investigators, drug syndicates recruit people and use them as carriers for smuggling. "Various modus operandi is being used for drug trafficking. Once the illegal drugs, such as heroin, reaches Delhi, it is trafficked to European and American countries concealed in small courier parcels by the air route," an investigator said, adding that the concealment is mainly done by creating false cavities in items like clothes, toys, trolley bags.
He also said that heroin is mainly smuggled from Pakistan while another investigator stated that cocaine is smuggled from Latin American countries through air routes. The data added that till November 17, nine cases were detected in which foreign currencies worth over Rs 4 crore were seized. According to the Customs (Baggage Rules), a passenger must undertake a declaration from Customs if he or she is carrying foreign currencies worth more than $5,000 or the equivalent.
Meanwhile, CISF PRO Hemendra Singh said that they have established a multi-layer security system at the airport. "Our CISF personnel are trained to identify suspicious passengers," said Singh. On a profiling basis, CISF surveillance and intelligence personnel at the Airport mark any suspicious passenger and then checks his or her baggage and if any illegal items are found, the said passenger is handed over to the concerned agency for further investigation.
The data further revealed that (till November 17) more than 430 kg of sandalwood and Agarwood were recovered from the possession of foreigners at the airport.
According to Customs officials, sandalwood is smuggled to China, Hong Kong, and Gulf countries. "There is some medicational value of sandalwood in China whereas red sanders are used for making furniture," an official said. Agarwood is used to prepare high-quality perfume and incense sticks.
Moreover, the CISF, in more than nine cases, has nabbed foreign nationals who were using fake travel documents or overstaying in the country. On January 15, CISF caught a Nigerian national identified as Emmanuel Chinwenwa Ajonuma. CISF staff found that he has been illegally staying in India for the last eight years. Additionally, in October, CISF nabbed a foreign national with 12 live parrots.