Turkish national held at Delhi airport with 64 kg 'Jihad pills'

New Delhi, Sep 24 (IANS) A Turkish national was on Monday held at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here with 64 kg of a banned contraband drug generally used by militant groups and known as the "Jihad pill or Islamic State drug", said the CISF.

The paramilitary force, mandated to guard over 60 airports across the country, detained Erbil Han around 2.40 p.m. in the check-in area of Terminal-3 of the airport. Han was to travel to Istanbul by Turkish Airlines around 6.15 p.m.

"Our surveillance and intelligence staff noticed the suspicious activities of the Turkish passenger with passport No. U-15683822," said Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Spokesperson Hemendra Singh.

The foreigner's baggage was x-ray screened and on physical checking some 1,30,000 'Tramadol' tablets weighing about 64 kg were found, said the official. 

"The matter was informed to senior CISF officers, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Intelligence Bureau officials who confirmed the drug as contraband and banned under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. The foreign passenger along with seized contraband items was handed over to NCB officials," said the official. 

He added that 'Tramadol' was a pain killer and it was banned in India. "It is generally used by the different terrorist groups and also known as 'Jihad Pill or Islamic State drugs'. The price of the medicine in the Middle East is $5 per pill." 

This was the same passenger who was on April 30 apprehended and handed over to Delhi Police for entering the terminal building by using a fake ticket, added the official.