CHENNAI: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) sleuths have seized 110 kg of controlled substance pseudoephedrine — worth Rs 110 crore — from Chennai port and arrested two shipping agents for their role in the bid to smuggle it abroad.
The drug had been hidden inside quartz powder bags in a container and destined for Australia, said DRI sources.
Based on information that synthetic drugs were being smuggled abroad, the sleuths rushed to Chennai port on Wednesday and searched a container.
They seized 110 bags which had been declared as quartz powder. However, each bag had another package inside. “Chemical analysis confirmed that the white powdery substance is pseudoephedrine which is in huge demand in Australia to produce methamphetamine and ecstasy pills,” said DRI sources.
Shipping agents Abudahir and Ahmed Basha were secured. Investigations revealed that they had already sent similar consignments at least four times to Australia.
“They are tight-lipped about where they source the substance from and at whose behest they have been acting. They will be taken into custody for further investigation,” said DRI officials. The duo were remanded in judicial custody on Thursday.
This is the second major seizure of drugs by the DRI in 30 days. In August, DRI seized 10.13 kg of methamphetamine worth Rs 50.65 crore and arrested six people.
Earlier this year, the NCB arrested TN-based businessman Jaffer Sadiq for smuggling pseudoephedrine to Australia and New Zealand.