Customs sleuths seized 2 kg of ketamine powder, valued at over Rs 20 lakh in the international market, and arrested two people for trying to smuggle it to Kuala Lumpur, at Chennai International Airport on Monday. The duo tried to smuggle the drug by concealing it in their footwear.
Airport sources said, acting on specific intelligence that ketamine was being smuggled a Malaysian Airlines flight, carried out a thorough check of the baggage of all passengers.
Two people, Shajahan Nivas (34) and Khaja Moideen (31), from Ilayankudi village in Sivaganga district and residing at Mannadi area in the city, were found moving in a suspicious manner. Officials noticed that the chappals worn by the duo were unusually big. They broke the moulded plastic chappals and found half a kg of ketamine in each of them.