Woman arrested at Bengaluru airport with cocaine worth Rs 39 crore

Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru

A Ghanaian woman was arrested with 3.186 kg of cocaine at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), officials said on Wednesday.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized narcotics worth Rs 38.8 crore from the woman. The accused, identified as Jennifer Abbe, arrived in Bengaluru from Doha, Qatar. She was arrested after the officials found 3 kg of high-purity cocaine in her possession, TOI reported.

The woman was reportedly intercepted based on the inputs received by the DRI. Upon detailed interrogation of her luggage and personal belongings, the contraband was found concealed inside. She was immediately taken into custody for further investigation.

The DRI officials are now probing her background, including potential links to international drug cartels operating through transit hubs.

Few days back, Mangalore police arrested two South African nationals in Bengaluru for smuggling and supplying MDMA. The operation led to the seizure of 37.870 kg of the drug, valued at Rs 275 crore.

The investigation also revealed that the two South African nationals had been smuggling MDMA via air routes from Delhi to Bengaluru. Acting on intelligence, Mangalore CCB officers arrested the two on March 14 in Bengaluru's Neeladri Nagar area.

Mangalore Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal said the police are committed to crack down on drug trafficking networks. "Our efforts to make Mangalore a drug-free city will continue," India Today quoted him as saying.

These arrests also follow Kannada actor Ranya Rao’s arrest at Bengaluru airport for attempting to smuggle 14.2 kg of gold. The actor is currently in judicial custody.