Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email What a disgrace. Criminals making use of religion to do their business:
CHENNAI: Customs officials uncovered the unholy intentions of a syndicate when they seized ketamine concealed in a plywood box packed with statues of Hindu deities bound for Malaysia.
The drug, worth about RM1 million, was headed for a Malaysian address in Central Plaza, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.
The box, meant to be an air consignment, bore a label which indicated it was a gift to a Tamil association and was declared as paper mesh holy deities.
It was only when a team of customs officers became suspicious of the unusual weight of the box and opened it, that they discovered there was nothing divine about its contents.
Commissioner of Customs (Imports), C. Rajan said his officers became suspicious of a wooden box weighing 44.8kg at the courier terminal on Thursday.
He said the box was said to contain eight statues bearing the likeness of Hindu deities.“But the box was heavy, and upon breaking open its false bottom, we discovered three polythene parcels.
“The sender is suspected to be from Chennai,” Rajan said.
He said each packet weighed 5kg and in total, there were 15kg of ketamine, valued about RM1 million in the international market.
“As the sender had provided fictitious details, the Customs Department was unable to trace the suspect.
“He had given a copy of his driving licence at the counter but when we checked the address, it was found to be fictitious,” added Rajan.
Of late, Chennai has become a popular gateway for local and international traffickers, mainly for buyers based in Malaysia.
