Customs officials seize 48 kg of hydroponic weed from 8 passengers at Mumbai airport
All eight passengers were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and most of them arrived from Bangkok, Thailand, customs officials at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) said.
All eight passengers were found holding Indian passports, and most of them arrived from Bangkok, Thailand, the officials said. (Express photo) Customs officials at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) said on Tuesday that their air-intelligence unit (AIU) had intercepted eight passengers and seized 48 kg of hydroponic weed from them in six cases over the past few days.
All eight passengers were found holding Indian passports, and most of them arrived from Bangkok, Thailand, the officials said, adding that they were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
In the first case, an AIU official intercepted a man after he arrived at the airport from Bangkok by Thai Lion Air on the night of December 20. While searching his baggage, a lavender trolley bag, AIU officials found eight sealed packets made of silver-coloured plastic material. The officials found a dry green substance in the lump form in the packets. A field testing kit showed that the substance was hydroponic weed (cannabis). The eight packets contained 7.787 kg of hydroponic weed worth Rs 7.79 crore. He was arrested the next morning and produced in court.
Based on spot profiling, AIU officials also intercepted a woman who arrived from Bangkok and found 12 kg of hydroponic weed in her baggage, officials said.
On Monday, AIU officials intercepted three passengers after their arrival from Bangkok and seized 15 kg of hydroponic weed from their baggage. The official also arrested a passenger who was carrying 81 g of amphetamine, valued at Rs 16.20 lakh, when he arrived from Muscat, Oman.
Further, based on specific intelligence, AIU officials intercepted two passengers who arrived from Bangkok and recovered 13 kg of hydroponic weed, valued at Rs 13 crore, from them.
Some of the passengers attempted to smuggle hydroponic weed by concealing it inside shampoo bottles and snack boxes, the officials said.
Customs officials also intercepted five passengers in five separate cases and recovered 283 g of gold jewellery studded with diamonds, valued at Rs 35.18 lakh, from two passengers and 6.643 kg of polished semi-precious stones, valued at Rs 25 lakh, from one passenger.
In a separate incident, two passengers were arrested with foreign currency equivalent to Rs 45.26 lakh while departing for Fujairah, UAE, on Monday.
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