By Mewati Sitaram
In a major crackdown on narcotics smuggling, officers of the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone-III, seized 8.012 kg of suspected hydroponic weed (a high-grade variant of marijuana) in a series of operations conducted between July 29 and 30 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMI), Mumbai. The total market value of the seized narcotics is estimated at approximately ₹8 crore. Four passengers arriving from Bangkok were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
In the first operation based on specific intelligence, Customs officers intercepted three passengers who had arrived from Bangkok on flight VZ760. On examining their baggage, officials discovered 1.990 kg of hydroponic marijuana concealed inside vacuum-sealed black and transparent plastic packets stashed within trolley bags. The market value of the contraband is pegged at around ₹2 crore. All three passengers were taken into custody and formally arrested under NDPS provisions.
In a separate incident on the same dates, profiling efforts led to the interception of another passenger arriving from Bangkok on flight 6E1060. A thorough search of his baggage revealed 6.022 kg of the same narcotic, again hidden in vacuum-sealed packets within a checked-in trolley bag. The seized quantity is valued at approximately ₹6 crore in the illicit market. The individual was promptly arrested.
Customs officials stated that the modus operandi in both cases involved concealing the hydroponic weed in professional vacuum packs to avoid detection during baggage scanning. Hydroponic marijuana, often cultivated in controlled indoor environments, is known for its higher potency and fetches a steep price in illegal markets.
The seizures reflect the vigilance and coordinated efforts of Mumbai Customs in curbing the trafficking of high-grade narcotics through international air routes. All four accused have been booked under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, and further investigations are underway to determine possible links to larger smuggling syndicates.
Officials reiterated their commitment to maintaining strict surveillance at Mumbai Airport and urged passengers to refrain from becoming carriers for international drug networks, knowingly or otherwise.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
