By Mewati Sitaram
In a major crackdown on narcotics smuggling, the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone-III, seized 19.65 kg of suspected hydroponic weed, valued at around ₹19.65 crore, during duty hours on August 26–27 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMI). The contraband was recovered across three separate cases, leading to the arrest of four passengers.
In the first two cases, based on passenger profiling, customs officers intercepted two passengers who arrived from Bangkok on flight VZ-760 on August 26. Examination of their checked-in baggage led to the recovery of 11.64 kg of hydroponic weed, worth ₹11.64 crore. Both passengers were arrested under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
In another case on August 27, specific intelligence inputs led to the interception of two passengers from Phuket, who landed in Mumbai by flight 6E-1072. Their baggage search resulted in the seizure of 8.01 kg of hydroponic weed, valued at ₹8.01 crore. These two passengers were also arrested under the NDPS Act.
Officials said the narcotics were concealed inside checked-in trolley bags, indicating sophisticated concealment methods used by smugglers. Mumbai Customs stated that sustained vigilance and profiling techniques helped foil the smuggling attempts.
The seized narcotics and arrested passengers have been handed over for further investigation.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
