Afghan, smuggling out heroin in body, held

A 43-year-old Afghan national has been arrested here for trying to smuggle out a quantity of heroin, valued at Rs 2 crore in the international market, by concealing it in capsules he swallowed, police said on Sunday.

The drug trafficker, identified as Ghulam Rabani, had crossed all security checks at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) and was to leave in the Afghanistan-bound Kam Air flight on November 3 when he suddenly developed health problems.

He was offloaded from the flight and admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

Police grew suspicious as Rabani had arrived in India on a medical visa in October but had not visited any hospital for treatment.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjay Bhatia said that doctors at AIIMS were consulted and advised to examine and assess whether he had swallowed any contraband.

"During treatment it was established that Rabani had swallowed a large number of capsules.

He was operated by the doctors, and during surgery, 57 capsules made of polythene were take out from his stomach and rectum.

"The capsules were opened and it was found containing heroin. The weight of the contraband was 525 grams. The total value of the contraband is estimated to be about Rs 2 crore in the international market," he said.

Rabani has been arrested and booked under sections of of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

Bhatia said "efforts are being made to unearth the whole syndicate and track the other co-passenger who was to travel in the same flight with Rabani".

--IANS

rak/vd