KOCHI: While smuggling rackets are making attempts to breach surveillance and security nets at airports and border posts, there is a spurt in the number of seizures of contraband, including drugs and foreign currencies sneaked through post offices. Items like LSD to an unassembled rifle were recovered at the Foreign Post Office (FPO) in Kochi, Kerala, in the first six months of this year.
The FPO in Kochi is one among the five of its kind in India that come under the Office of Exchange category, with Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and New Delhi having the others. The parcels and letters from abroad first land at the Office of Exchange where the Customs Unit scans it before sending it to normal FPOs, 13 of them all over India.
From January to June this year, the Customs units deployed at FPO in Kochi made as many as 42 seizures. They include 19 seizures of foreign and Indian currencies, 20 cases of narcotic substances, including cocaine, LSD and Hashish, two cases of wildlife products and an unassembled automatic rifle. Customs Commissioner Sumit Kumar said smugglers frequently attempt to send narcotic products through the postal route.
“In one case, we recovered 300 cocaine-filled capsules. One parcel had more than 100 LSD stamps. Another parcel received in February this year had 150 drug ampules. We also recovered a parcel having hashish bars. After the seizure, we hand over the cases to our Preventive Unit for investigation. Narcotic products worth more than Rs 4 crore were seized this year,” he said.
Customs also frequently recover foreign and Indian currencies, which are often in small amounts, and white Peacock feathers and exotic wood chips. “In most of the cases, the person sending the parcel would be providing a bogus address of the person who is to receive the post. In some cases, our team could successfully trace out the person,” said Kumar.
At a glance
■ The FPO in Kochi is one among the five of its kind in India
■ From January to June this year, the Customs units deployed at FPO in Kochi made as many as 42 seizures
■ Customs Commissioner Sumit Kumar said smugglers frequently attempt to send narcotic products through the postal route