Mumbai: In two separate cases, the Mumbai Airport Customs officials on Wednesday arrested two persons, including a woman for allegedly smuggling Hydroponic Weed worth over Rs 3 crore.
According to the Customs sources, Customs officers intercepted one passenger Salman Anwar Shaikh, a resident of Thane on the basis of suspicion that he might be carrying some contraband items, after he arrived at CSMI Airport, Mumbai from Bangkok. The officers then carried out a search of his baggage and found four packets besides some clothes and chocolates.
The said packets contained greenish coloured material suspected to be a narcotic substance on testing the same the results showed positive for the presence of hydroponic weed (Marijuana), a substance covered under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Hydroponic Weed Worth Over ₹3 Crore Seized
The seized marijuana totally weighed 2798 grams valued at Rs 2.79 crore. In his statement, Shaikh admitted that he was aware that smuggling of hydroponic weed and other illegal drugs into India attracts stringent punishment as per laws prevalent in India.
In another case, Customs officers intercepted one passenger Aafreen Jawahar, a resident of Chennai on the basis of suspicion that she might be carrying some contraband items, after she arrived at CSMI Airport, Mumbai from Bangkok. The Customs officers seized five packets containing 676.000 grams of hydroponic weed valued Rs 67.60 lakh from her baggage.
Customs Officials Crack Down Amid Bangkok Route Surveillance
"As the investigations in the case are at a very preliminary stage, efforts are also being made to identify and apprehend key associates of the accused," said a Customs official.
The accused persons were represented by advocates Arun Gupta, Ashish Singh, Birendra Yadav in the court. While Afreen got bail from the court, Shaikh was remanded to judicial custody.
