Sleuths from the Chennai unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized 3.1kg of cocaine from a passenger who boarded the Tamil Nadu express on Friday, reports The Hindu. It is said to be valued at close to Rs.10 crore.

According to reports, the team intercepted a 27 year old man from Mizoram as he was headed to New Delhi. The accused, Vishal, told investigators that an African man had handed over the contraband to him to deliver in the capital.

The cocaine was reportedly in pure form and had been sourced directly from the cocaine production belt in South America.

“Vishal is suspected to be working for a South American cocaine cartel. Further investigation is under way to find out his links in Chennai,” said A. Bruno, Zonal Director of NCB, in a press release.

In June this year, drugs worth Rs 71 crore were seized at a manufacturing unit near in Chenna and 10 people arrested after a surprise check. Methamphetamine, a narcotic drug was being manufactured at a facility in Red Hills in Chennai. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials undertook a surprise search at the unit and arrested 10 people.