Filipina held with heroin worth Rs.20 million

CHENNAI: A Filipina was produced before a local court on Friday for allegedly attempting to smuggle two kg of processed heroin worth Rs.20 million in the international market.

The police arrested Pariano Fernandez, 30, at Chennai airport on late Thursday night as she was about to board a flight to Kuala Lumpur. They claimed she was carrying the drug consignment.

The woman told the magistrate in court that she was handed over a packet by a stranger in New Delhi during a 10-day stay. She was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.

Customs sources said that Fernandez was the fourth Filipina to be arrested here in the last 30 days on drug smuggling charges. Officials suspected the involvement of an international gang.