ID :
128311
Wed, 06/16/2010 - 21:07
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/128311
The shortlink copeid
SOUTH INDIAN WOMEN FALL PREY TO DRUG CARTELS
By P. Vijian
CHENNAI, June 16 (Bernama) -- With the arrest of two women who were deployed
as drug mules enroute to Malaysia this week, sleuths in south India are
beginning to suspect regional drug cartels have begun recruiting local women as
narco couriers.
Following a series of high-profile drug busts recently at Chennai's airport
and seaport -- major gateways for drug smugglers in India -- traffickers are
believed to be switching their tactics by hiring women to do their dirty
business.
"They are now trying to hoodwink the authorities by hiring women and often,
they (women) are asked to carry small quantities of drugs.
"Earlier, (drug) syndicates were using Thai and Filipinas to carry their
consignment to other Asian countries," a senior investigating officer familiar
with narcotics trafficking told Bernama Wednesday.
Two Indian women, both in their 40s were arrested, at Chennai airport,
trying
to smuggle ephedrine (used in the production of methamphetamine) and heroin to
Malaysia, earlier this week.
On June 14, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) unit in Chennai
detained a woman, along with five men, in the city and seized 30kg of ephedrine
whose street value was nearly RM4 million (US$1=RM3.29).
Chinese currency was found in the handbag of the woman who was about to
board a plane to Malaysia.
In an unrelated incident, two days earlier, Customs officials at Chennai
airport nabbed a suspect who was on her way to Kuala Lumpur.
The 40-year-old woman, from the state of Andra Pradesh, was frisked after
she acted suspiciously before boarding the plane.
About 300 grammes of heroin were found hidden inside her blouse.
Law enforcement agents are now zeroing on syndicates trying to deploy women
to execute their clandestine operations in Southeast Asian capitals.
-- BERNAMA
CHENNAI, June 16 (Bernama) -- With the arrest of two women who were deployed
as drug mules enroute to Malaysia this week, sleuths in south India are
beginning to suspect regional drug cartels have begun recruiting local women as
narco couriers.
Following a series of high-profile drug busts recently at Chennai's airport
and seaport -- major gateways for drug smugglers in India -- traffickers are
believed to be switching their tactics by hiring women to do their dirty
business.
"They are now trying to hoodwink the authorities by hiring women and often,
they (women) are asked to carry small quantities of drugs.
"Earlier, (drug) syndicates were using Thai and Filipinas to carry their
consignment to other Asian countries," a senior investigating officer familiar
with narcotics trafficking told Bernama Wednesday.
Two Indian women, both in their 40s were arrested, at Chennai airport,
trying
to smuggle ephedrine (used in the production of methamphetamine) and heroin to
Malaysia, earlier this week.
On June 14, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) unit in Chennai
detained a woman, along with five men, in the city and seized 30kg of ephedrine
whose street value was nearly RM4 million (US$1=RM3.29).
Chinese currency was found in the handbag of the woman who was about to
board a plane to Malaysia.
In an unrelated incident, two days earlier, Customs officials at Chennai
airport nabbed a suspect who was on her way to Kuala Lumpur.
The 40-year-old woman, from the state of Andra Pradesh, was frisked after
she acted suspiciously before boarding the plane.
About 300 grammes of heroin were found hidden inside her blouse.
Law enforcement agents are now zeroing on syndicates trying to deploy women
to execute their clandestine operations in Southeast Asian capitals.
-- BERNAMA
