Panaji
The time-tested method of ‘body packaging’ for transporting narcotic substances via air continues to be employed for smuggling consignments in and out of Goa.
The ongoing investigation of the Anti Narcotics Cell of Goa Police, has revealed that the 46 year-old British national David Johnson, who was arrested earlier in the week along with two other Indians, resorted to this crude yet highly effective method to transport LSD crystals to Goa from United Kingdom.
Highly placed sources from the ANC informed that in order to avoid detection by the airport and customs authorities, drug suppliers wrap small quantities of LSD crystals in cling foil or cellophane wrapping. These tiny packets are then placed in a thicker outer wrapping such as condom. “The supplier then inserts the entire packet in his rectum while passing through the final clearance area at the airport before boarding a flight,” the source disclosed.
During his interrogation, Johnson revealed to the ANC that these packets are taken out of the body once the supplier boards a flight and are inserted back before landing. Though there have been instances of death owing to ruptures in the packaging, suppliers continue to stick to the old method owing to its high success rate.
As authorities and customs officials tend to refer flyers to body scans mainly on suspicion of terror links, ‘body packaging’ has proved to be an effective method for transporting the powerful psychedelic substance on flights. “The tiny LSD crystals are highly deceptive and a few grains of this concentrated substance can prove lethal,” the source said.
Following an extended raid between March 21 and 23 at Anjuna and Arambol, ANC had arrested Johnson, Yusuf Mohammad of Chennai and Ganesh Pondir from Himachal Pradesh while also successfully attaching Rs 23.26 lakh worth narcotics.
The haul included 75 grams of methamphetamine, 10 LSD sugar cubes weighing 40 grams, 37 grams of MDMA, 32 ecstasy tablets weighing 13 grams, 1.350 kgs of charas, 40 grams of DMT and 30 grams of LSD liquid. “Accused Pondir was the main supplier of Himachal charas and Johnson allegedly supplied synthetic psychotropic drugs at
