Mumbai: Airport Customs Seizes Over 26 Kg Of Smuggled Hydroponic Marijuana Worth ₹26 Crore From Bangkok Passengers; 5 Arrested

Mumbai: The Customs officials in five separate cases have arrested passengers arriving from Bangkok for allegedly smuggling over 26 kilograms of suspected hydroponic weed (marijuana) having an illicit market value of approximately Rs 26 crores.

According to the Customs sources, in the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, based on specific intelligence and spot profiling, Customs officers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai, intercepted five passengers arriving from Bangkok across five cases.

During these operations, officers recovered 26.481 kilograms of suspected hydroponic weed (marijuana), with an illicit market value of approximately Rs 26.48 crores. The narcotic substances were concealed in double-layered silver-colored plastic packets, which were further hidden inside multiple packets of chips, washing powder, diapers, and instant noodles, all placed within trolley bags carried by the passengers. All the passengers were arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

In the past three months alone, through a series of similar targeted operations, Customs officers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport have successfully intercepted and seized an astounding 115.5 kg of contraband purported to be Hydroponic Ganja. These seizures have an estimated illicit market value of Rs 115.5 crores, the agency official said.

"The ongoing operations, driven by meticulous profiling of suspected passengers by the officers and also specific intelligence received in some cases, are part of initiatives of Customs officers at CSMIA, targeting the disruption of illegal smuggling networks attempting to exploit the international airport's busy environment. These substantial seizures underscore the unwavering commitment and heightened vigilance of Mumbai Customs officers in combating drug smuggling and also in line with the Government of India’s Nasha Mukth Bharat campaign," said a Customs official.