Customs Officials Seize Drugs Worth Rs 5 Crore and Recover Exotic Animals at Mumbai Airport

Customs officials at the Mumbai airport made three separate seizures, including narcotics and exotic animals, from passengers arriving from Bangkok on Tuesday. The seizures were made by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officials, who intercepted two passengers with a total of 5.212 kg of cannabis and marijuana worth approximately Rs 5 crore. In addition to the narcotics, officials recovered several animals, including meerkats, lizards, iguanas, and a four-eyed turtle, from a third passenger. Investigations are ongoing to determine if the passengers were part of a larger syndicate.

Key Takeaways:

Customs officials seized a total of 5.212 kg of cannabis and marijuana worth approximately Rs 5 crore from two passengers arriving from Bangkok on Tuesday.
The contraband was hidden inside the passengers' checked-in trolley bags, with one passenger carrying 2.873 kg of cannabis and the other 2.339 kg of marijuana.
Both passengers were arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
A third passenger was arrested under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, and the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, for attempting to smuggle exotic animals, including meerkats, lizards, iguanas, and a four-eyed turtle.
The investigation into the passengers and the seized animals is ongoing, with Customs officials verifying their call data records to determine if they were part of a larger syndicate.

Statistics:

Total weight of seized cannabis and marijuana: 5.212 kg
Total value of seized contraband: approximately Rs 5 crore
Number of passengers arrested: 3
Number of exotic animals recovered: multiple, including meerkats, lizards, iguanas, and a four-eyed turtle
Total value of seized animals: undetermined

Sources:

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Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985
Customs Act, 1962
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972