Tanzanian man arrested at Dhaka airport with suspected cocaine capsules worth Tk 150mn

Authorities say the seized consignment weighs approximately 1.1kgs

Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) officials have detained a Tanzanian national at Shahjalal International Airport after discovering 80 capsules hidden inside his stomach, which are suspected to contain cocaine.

An official from the directorate confirmed on Wednesday that the capsules contain a white powder believed to be the high-value narcotic.

The passenger, identified as Abul Nasser Bakari Zoha, arrived in Dhaka at around 9:30am on Wednesday aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Ethiopia.

Acting on a tip-off, customs intelligence officials intercepted Zoha shortly after he landed.

A subsequent medical scan of his stomach revealed the presence of the 80 capsules.

"The total weight of these capsules is approximately 1.1kgs," a CIID official told bdnews24.com.

"The Department of Narcotics Control is currently testing the white powder found inside them to verify if it is indeed cocaine. If confirmed, the estimated market value of the consignment would be around Tk 150 million.”

The official added that legal proceedings are currently under way regarding the incident.