The Delhi Unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested a 32-year-old American woman who was involved in smuggling narcotic drugs to India by various means.

The woman, Stephanie Caprio Policarpio, was arrested from a five star hotel in Pahar Ganj on Monday by the Narcotics Central Bureau said Dr. Rajender Pal Singh, Deputy Director General of NCB .

The bureau has seized 1.9 kg of cocaine worth Rs 10 crore,  which was to be delivered to an anonymous buyer in New Delhi, said Singh. “In 2017, Delhi zonal unit of Narcotic Central Bureau has seized 26.34 kg cocaine and have had arrested twenty foreign nationals and two Indian nationals from New Delhi. Most of the carriers were from South American countries or African countries.  But this is the first time that a national of United States has been arrested in the trafficking of cocaine. This is the second seizure of cocaine within this week which originated from South American countries via Africa,” said Singh.

The officer said, “Following specific information about an American national who is suspected to be carrying huge consignment of cocaine has booked accommodation at a hotel in Pahar Ganj area, surveillance was mounted around the hotel. Hotel management confirmed the reports and shared the room number of the foreigner.

“After keeping track of the movement of her room, the NCB team intercepted the lady in the room. On search twenty eight thread rolls were discovered from her bag. When the rolls were checked packets of cocaine were found concealed in it. Total 1.9 kg of cocaine was found from her.”

Primary investigation revealed that she arrived in New Delhi from Sao Paolo in Brazil via Addis Ababa. She was handed over the consignment of cocaine by a Nigerian national identified as Joseph in Brazil and was supposed to hand over it to his associated in New Delhi. She told police that since February she has travelled various countries like Spain, Switzerland, Uganda and Brazil.

“During investigation it was revealed that the smugglers are opting the Brazil to New Delhi via Adis Ababa or via Dubai route. In most of the cases, Nigerian Nationals are found to be the receiver of the cocaine consignments in India,” said Singh.

While emphasising on the excessive trafficking of cocaine in India, the deputy director general shared that total six times smugglers were intercepted at airports like Delhi Kochi Mumbai and Kolkata. “The different zonal units have seized around 10.770 kg of cocaine from the airports. In all the seizures Brazil was the prime source and was destine to Goa.  The smuggling has been rise from last few months due to ongoing festive season in Goa and recently a passenger with 12 kg cocaine was arrested at Rio De Janeiro Airport in Brazil when she was about to board a flight from Kochi in India,” said Singh.