Chennai: They look like onions; however, that is how a 197 kg of Ketamine Hydrochloride arrived in Chennai from North India.

The rupees 20 crore worth drug was packed in the onion shaped packets and mixed with the original onions meant for export.

According to officials, Ketamine seizures have been on the rise in Chennai with more than 10 seizures at the Chennai airport and the harbour.

While one kilo of Ketamine costs between rupees 15 to 35,000 in India, its international value is as high as rupees 10 lacs per kg. Ketamine is also called the date rape drug because it’s used to spike drinks. Its uncanny resemblance to sugar often makes it difficult to identify.

In the past too drugs have often been smuggled from South East Asia via India to the Middle East and European destinations, but sources in the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence feel that this large scale seizure could be part of a larger smuggling racket involving many people.