MELEZO TOKA INDIA KUHUSU MTANZANIA ALIYEKUFA KWA MADAWA YA KULEVYA

The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Mumbai Customs is on a sticky position on the death of one Tanzanian national.

After getting a tip-off, officials of Mumbai customs and Narcotic Control Board (NCB) arrested three Tanzanian nationals at Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport for attempting to smuggle cocaine by ingesting capsules.

Out of these three, two were mules who were flying on Ethiopian Airlines Flight 610, which landed early in the morning, were taken in for questioning. After five hours of questioning, these men had still not admitted to anything.

Source says, officials offered these foreigners food and water, a common trick. Drug mules who ingest capsules always refuse to eat or drink because sudden bowel movements rupture the capsules leading to death. If the man refused, they would know for sure that the person is smuggling drugs. One of them ate the offered food.

"One man ate the omlette pao offered to him. Later, all three were taken to the court, but the person who had eaten food resisted and tried to escape. In a scuffle, he collapsed outside the court. He died of a sudden cardiac death, typical of a cocaine overdose," an officer said on request of anonymity. He was carrying 20-25 capsules in his body.

The second man's condition was deteriorating and he has been admitted at JJ Hospital on Monday night. After X-ray and CT-scan, it was found that he was carrying around 100 capsules in his body. "He is carrying around 100 capsules in his body. His condition is serious, but he is not in ICU," T P Lahane, dean of JJ Hospital confirmed to Headlines Today.

The third person - an elderly lady - is being questionned separately. She had apparently not ingested any capsules, but was accompanying the men.

Source says, as of now, Mumbai Customs is taking statements of its officials who were present in this operation.

When contacted, no senior custom commissioners made any official statement on this case. One said, "as of now, we could not give any confirmation or any details. But yes, the mattter is under investigation."

Ideally, all three are likely "foot soldiers" also known as 'mules' - who smuggle across a national border, including bringing into and out of an international plane, especially a small amount, transported for a smuggling organisation. The organisers employ these mules to reduce the risk of getting caught themselves.