2 passengers from Bangkok held at Mumbai airport with hydroponic weed worth Rs 13.83 crore

The narcotic substance was concealed inside the checked-in trolley bag carried by the passengers.

In the second case, another passenger arriving from Bangkok was apprehended after 11.83 kg of suspected hydroponic weed, with an illicit market value of approximately Rs 11.83 crore, was allegedly seized from him. In this case too, the weed was concealed inside the checked-in trolley bag carried by the passenger.

An official said that smuggling of hydroponic weed from Thailand has seen a rise since the use of the drug is legal in the country.

Hydroponic weed, which is grown without soil, is in high demand as it has around 30 per cent tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, which leads to stronger psychoactive effects, as compared to regular marijuana where it is in single digits.
An official said that while generally ganja was cheaper and used by lower income groups of people, hydroponic weed is more expensive and given its potency has become popular with the upper middle class.