Mumbai: The Mumbai Airport Customs officials on Wednesday arrested three persons, including two women for allegedly smuggling Hydroponic Weed valued at around Rs 25 crore from Hong Kong. The agency officials have identified two handlers who were allegedly involved in the smuggling syndicate.
According to the Customs sources, on Tuesday night Customs officers intercepted two passengers together namely Mohammad Shakir Shaikh (44) and his wife Tabssumbanu (40), both residents of Surat, on the basis of specific Intelligence that they might be carrying some contraband items after they had arrived at CSMI Airport, Mumbai from Hong Kong.
Search of the baggage carried by both the passengers resulted in 25 packets containing greenish coloured substance in lumps form. On testing the seized material it showed positive results for Hydroponic Weed (Marijuana), a substance covered under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The seized contraband weighed 24.96 kg.
"On being interrogated Shaikh and Tabssumbanu revealed that they were supposed to deliver the contraband to one lady, who was waiting for them outside at the exit gate of the arrival of CSMI Airport. Thereafter, the officers along with two passengers went in search of the receiver and as soon as the receiver approached the passenger, the customs officers nabbed the receiver, identified as Alifiyah Yusuf Rampurawala, a resident of Bhayandar," said a Customs officer.
"During interrogation and going through mobile phone of Rampurawala it was revealed that she was in telephonically contact with Abu Bakar and Nasir, both of whom are part of the nexus, suspected to be involved in the smuggling of the contraband. Rampurawala had received photographs of both the passengers from Abu Bakar, and was acting on the instructions of Mr. Abu Bakar and Mr. Nasir Bhai to facilitate this illicit smuggling operation. It is also evident from the WhatsApp call logs of Rampurawala that she was in touch with Shaikh regarding the delivery of the contraband items to her. The arrested passengers said that they agreed for smuggling as they were getting a handsome amount of quick and easy money in lieu of smuggling the contraband to India," the officer said.
Advocates Arun Gupta, Ashish Singh and Birendra Yadav argued for the arrested persons in the court after which they were remanded to judicial custody.
