The four persons are Salim Ismail, M I S Nizamuddin, Palji Shyamji Barya and P S Tafti, who is employed as security assistant with A-I and allegedly connived with the three who were carrying the drugs in two suitcases.

The baggage had the security strips already affixed when the accused arrived at the airport and were nabbed by NCB officers. The accused were apparently trying to avoid the X-ray check before they boarded their flight headed for Kenya. The suitcases contained nothing but the contraband. ``They had not attempted to conceal the drugs under a scrap of clothing,'' sources said. The four accused are in NCB custody.

While investigations in the case are on, it is also revealed that the Air Intelligence Unit of Customs at Sahar had, in June, arrested another Air India traffic assistant forallegedly helping in the attempt to smuggle 88 kgs of mandrax by the use of duplicate baggage tags. The modus operandi was to use a genuine passenger (in this case a lady), issue her valid baggage tags, and then pass off identical (additional baggage) containing the contraband with tags having the same numbers of the tag of the genuine passenger.

The traffic assistant, Rakesh Sharma, allegedly agreed to help in the crime for Rs 10,000. The loader, who is also suspected to be involved, is absconding.