Man with date-rape drug held at Mumbai airport

The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Customs on Sunday arrested an Ulhasnagar-based businessman for allegedly attempting to smuggle ketamine hydrochloride, also known as date-rape drug, valued at Rs18.5 lakh to Singapore.

“The accused, Giresh Motwani, and was remanded in judicial custody till May 12 by a holiday court on Sunday,” a Customs officer said, adding that he was just a carrier and he was promised Rs5,000 for doing the job.

The drug was given to him by two persons, Harish and Raju. Motwani was supposed to leave by Singapore Airlines on April 21 and deliver it to someone in Singapore.

When the AIU intercepted him and checked his baggage, they found a water heater wrapped in cellophane toil. They cut the water heater and found a black plastic bag containing the drug.

Motwani, a resident of Ulhasnagar, admitted that he was attempting to smuggle out the drug, for which he was promised Rs5,000.

Ketamine hydrochloride is a non-barbiturate, rapid acting disassociate anaesthetic used on both animals and humans. It is abused by a number of people as a date-rape drug. Ketamine creates numbness, loss of coordination, sense of invulnerability, muscle, rigidity, aggressive behaviour etc. The use of ketamine is only for medical use and is marketed to veterinarians and medical personnel.

It is considered a controlled substance in various countries.