Mumbai: Investigations into the case wherein the Mumbai Airport Customs officials had arrested a Uganda national businessman on March 05, for allegedly smuggling cocaine worth Rs 11.8 crore by ingesting them in 100 capsules has revealed that his handler had promised him 15000 USD for carrying and smuggling drugs into India.
The handler had also sent photograph of the accused carrier to the person who was supposed to receive the said consignment in a hotel in Mumbai, agency sources said.
According to the Customs sources, accused Islam Yasin Bukenya (43), is a businessman and his shop is situated at Bweyogerere, Kakajjo. Kiwanga, Kampala, where he sell clothes, shoes, ladies dress, mobiles phones etc.
According to the Customs officials, on March 01, based on spot profiling, Bukenya, who arrived from Uganda to Mumbai was intercepted at the arrival hall of the airport.
During questioning regarding the travel details and purpose of visit to Mumbai, Bukenya showed some signs of nervousness and admitted about ingestion of some capsules containing white coloured crumbled substance purported to be drugs.
He was taken to the Judicial Magistrate with a request to order recovery under the medical supervision. During the next 03 days, 100 capsules were purged by the passenger with total net weight of 1.18 kgs of white crumbled substance purported to be cocaine with estimated illicit market value of Rs 11.8 crore and was recovered with medical assistance.
"Investigation has revealed that Bukenya came to India to deliver the said seized narcotic substance at a hotel in Mumbai. One person who has introduced himself as Hassan contacted Bukenya from an unknown mobile number, somewhere in February 2025. He enquired with him about his profession and asked him to carry capsules containing drug to India and hand it to a person who will call in his mobile after he reached Mumbai," said a Customs official.
He added, "Hassan agreed to give Bukenya 15000 US Dollars for carrying and smuggling drugs into India. As instructed by Hassan, on 28-02-2025, he checked in at hotel room in Kampala Uganda. At the Hotel Room, he found 100 yellow-coloured oval shaped objects containing narcotic substance, purported to be Cocaine kept on the table. Hasan had instructed him to consume the same and asked him to smuggle them into India by flying to India. Hassan who had sent him to lndia for delivering narcotic substance, paid for his travel expenses as well."
Bukenya's handler Hassan had also given him the mobile number of the person who was supposed to meet him at a hotel in Mumbai and he had to deliver the said consignment to that person. Bukenya was told by Hassan that the receiver already had his photograph, sources said.
