Burundi woman caught smuggling drugs in dress buttons

Smugglers continue to find new methods of concealing the contraband in an attempt to prevent detection. Yet, call it a chance or careful examination, officials succeed in detecting the contraband from the air passengers.

In one such incident, Customs officials at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad seized heroin valued at Rs 14.20 crore from a Burundi national, who arrived from Nairobi on Monday.

Officials said that 2,027 grams of heroin was recovered from the passenger, who arrived by Air Arabia Airways Flight No.G9-458 on Sunday.

Based on passenger profiling and meticulous observation, the officials identified and intercepted the female passenger, aged about 43.

On examination of her baggage, officials found 8 traditional African dresses, one ladies handbag, and 3 soaps. The baggage appeared to be heavier than normal weight. On careful opening of side layers of the dresses, the handbag, and the soaps, they found black/clear plastic pouches concealed in each of the layers of the handbag, buttons of dresses, and in the soaps.

The pouches contained brownish white powder which upon testing appeared to be ‘heroin’. The passenger has been arrested under NDPS Act, 1985 and sent to judicial custody by the court. Diligent, alert and prompt action by the Hyderabad Customs officers has resulted in this huge catch of narcotics, additional commissioner of Hyderabad customs, Gandhi Donti said.