S African woman gets 10-yr RI for smuggling cocaine

The prosecution submitted that Princess Ntombifuthi Msomi, a native of Durban was intercepted at Chennai Airport on January 1, 2017, and found him in illegal possession of 1.075 kilograms of cocaine. Acting on a tip-off, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officers intercepted Msomi who was coming from Brazil to Chennai via Abu Dhabi.

When officials intercepted her at the airport, she admitted that she had swallowed cocaine capsules and requested them to take her to the hospital, since she was feeling uncomfortable, the prosecution said. Msomi was taken to Government General Hospital, Royapettah where she ejected 81 small capsules and one big capsule.

The prosecution framed charges under section 8(c) r/w21(c), 23(C), 28 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. Interestingly, the accused denied the charges and pleaded not guilty when the chargeswere read to her.

Special Judge V Thenmozhe who presided over the case found the accused guilty under section 8(c) r/w 21(c) and 23(c) and sentenced her to 10 years’ RI under each section. The sentences will run concurrently. The court also imposed a total fine of Rs 2 lakh on her.