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Customs Officials Foil Attempt to Smuggle Hydroponic Weed Worth Rs 14.5 Crore

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Customs officials at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai arrested a passenger who attempted to smuggle hydroponic weed worth Rs 14.5 crore from Bangkok. The passenger was caught while trying to declare the contraband as confidential diplomatic cargo linked to national security. The seized hydroponic weed weighed 14.548 kg and had a high illicit market value. The passenger, who was attempting to smuggle the contraband for a hefty commission, was arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The customs officials are investigating the international travel history of the passenger and the details of the carrier's handler and the person who was supposed to receive the consignment.

Key Takeaways:

  • The passenger was attempting to smuggle 14.548 kg of hydroponic weed worth Rs 14.5 crore from Bangkok.
  • The contraband was concealed inside envelopes bearing Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) markings and sealed with official MEA tape.
  • The passenger's bag also contained copies of various United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports and fake top-secret mission reports.
  • The passenger was stopped at the airport based on a spot profiling exercise.
  • The passenger was arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
  • The customs officials are investigating the international travel history of the passenger and the details of the carrier's handler and the person who was supposed to receive the consignment.
  • The seized hydroponic weed was tested in a narcotics field test kit, which prima facie confirmed that it was hydroponic weed or marijuana.

Statistics:

  • 14.548 kg: weight of the seized hydroponic weed.
  • Rs 14.5 crore: market value of the seized hydroponic weed.
  • 1 kg: approximate weight of hydroponic weed required to make Rs 1 crore.
  • 1985: year in which the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was enacted.

Sources:

  • Express News Service
  • Contify.com
  • "Mumbai: Customs officials foil attempt to smuggle hydroponic weed worth Rs 14.5 crore". IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd, 2025.

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