Bengaluru, 19 July

Acting on specific intelligence, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Bengaluru Zonal Unit intercepted an Indian male passenger with over 4 kg of cocaine worth Rs 40 crore.

The accused, who arrived from Doha, was intercepted at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in the early hours of Friday, according to a release from Ministry of Finance.

Upon careful examination of his baggage, officials observed that the passenger was carrying two superhero comics/magazines, which were unusually heavy. The officers carefully recovered white powder concealed in the covers of the magazines, the release stated.

The powder tested positive for cocaine. The recovered cocaine weighing 4,006 grams (over 4 kg) and having an international market value of around Rs 40 crore was seized under the provisions of the NDPS Act.

The passenger was subsequently arrested under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985 and was remanded to judicial custody on Friday.

The incident comes shortly after the sentencing of Kannada actress Ranya Rao, who was caught at the KIA smuggling around 14.2kgs of foreign-origin gold bars, valued at Rs 12.56 crore.

Following the interception, DRI officers conducted a search at her residential premises located at Lavelle Road, City where she resides with her husband. The search resulted in the seizure of gold jewelry worth Rs 2.06 Crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 Crore.