The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had arrested a 20-year-old Brazillian woman for allegedly smuggling 1.180 kilograms of cocaine worth crore of rupees officials on Sunday.
The arrested woman has been identified as Rebeca Alessandre Matos Arce. The NCB recovered 930 gram of pure South American Cocaine in the 106 capsules from the woman who was caught at the Indira Gandhi International airport on May 14 based on intelligence inputs. The woman had arrived from Sao Paulo in Brazil.
According to NCB sources, the NCB officers recovered 1.180 kilograms of white powder suspected to be cocaine, from Rebeca who was caught at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport based on intelligence inputs. She landed at the international airport by Ethiopian airline flight from Adis Ababa.
"The seized cocaine is believed to be sourced from Sao Paolo, Brazil and was being carried in luggage. Since Rebeca could not speak English, we had to use the services of a Portuguese interpreter. Her statement was recorded in which she confessed to being part of a conspiracy in procuring, selling and purchasing, export and import of contraband," said an NCB official.
"She claims to have smuggled the contraband for the first time. Rebeca said she agreed for smuggling for monetary benefit. She also claimed that she had plans to stay in India for some time before going for an India tour," said the official.
Cocaine causes a short-lived, intense high and immediately followed by the opposite—intense depression and craving for more drugs. It increases heart rate, muscle spasms and convulsions. The drug can also make people feel paranoid, angry, hostile and anxious—even when they are not high.
"Dealing in drugs may attract punishment of rigorous imprisonment up to 20 years and a financial penalty of up to Rs 2 lakhs. It could also make the accused eligible for the death penalty," the official said.