Smuggling of large quantity of medicines and narcotics from India to Malaysia, mainly through the Chennai Anna International Airport, has become rampant in recent times, and the authorities could intercept three such attempts in the last two and a half months.

Authorities are of the opinion that the incidents could lead to the possible existence of a Tamil Nadu based racket with international links dealing with high value life saving drugs and narcotics either for profiteering or to support activities of terrorists or for nefarious sources.

Recently, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officials at the Anna International airport intercepted six passengers in the security check area and found 50 kilogram odd drugs and medicines concealed in the false bottom of their baggage. The seizure was based on a tip off and included narcotics like Diazepam, huge quantities of anabolic steroids, vitamin injections, anti-diabetics, pain relievers, anti-asthmatics and various other life saving medicines.

Informed sources said that a similar seizure was done at the Mumbai airport too, sometime back and a subsequent alert was given by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration, which was communicated to the drug officials in ports and airports. The Chennai airport drug officials had seized 400 odd vials of the same drug from a passenger to Chennai on April 1, 2002.

According to a few learned sources, the culprits are suspected to be operating mainly from Triplicane in Chennai, Ildiyangudi near Rajapalayam, Dindigul and Ramanad districts. In two of the incidents, the police also suspected involvement or cooperation of the airport staff to smuggle out the drugs. If the passengers had deserted their baggage in the first and second case, the police in the recent incident arrested six persons.