New Delhi:
Two women have been arrested by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence sleuths at the IGI airport here for allegedly trying to smuggle six kg of ketamine, commonly used in rave parties, to Malaysia.
DRI sources said the officials have seized six kg of ketamine from the duo identified as Devika Rajendran and Shamim Begam.
They said the women, who are in their early 30s, were arrested on February 10 from the IGI airport and charged under the Narcotic Drug and Psychopathic Substance (NDPS) Act.
The duo could be a part of an international syndicate involved in smuggling of prescribed drug ketamine for commercial use, they said.
"The women were arrested and officials have seized 3 kg of ketamine from each of them. They could be a part of international racket. Investigation in the case is on," a DRI official said.
Ketamine is a prescribed intravenous drug used as anesthesia in human and veterinary medicine. It is, however, often used in rave parties as a recreational drug.
Sources said ketamine has huge market in foreign countries and drug peddlers here often try to smuggle it out to make easy money. The drug is priced at Rs one lakh per kg in the international market.
Both Rajendran and Begam were produced before a court which sent them to judicial custody, sources said.
The DRI sleuths are working to trace other aides who possibly helped the duo in getting the drugs.
"There is a possibility that the two might be used as courier to smuggle the drug out of the country. We are trying to find their backgrounds and role of other people in this," the official added.