Hydroponic Weed Worth ₹56.26 Cr Seized at Mumbai Airport; 5 Arrested | File Photo
Mumbai: The Mumbai Airport Customs made a significant seizure of hydroponic weed weighing 56.26 kilograms having an illicit market value of approx Rs 56.26 crores in one case. The agency has passengers arrested so far for allegedly smuggling contraband.
Those arrested have been identified as Ravi Devabhai Odedara (30), Ramesh Veja Odedara (31), Bharatbhai Modhwadia (37), Nathabhai Ramabhai Odedara (35) and Ram Karshan Bhutiya (24), all residents Porabandar in Gujarat.
According to the Customs sources, on the basis of profiling, Customs officers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai, intercepted five passengers who had arrived from Bangkok on Wednesday. On suspicion that they might be carrying contraband.
“During the search of the belongings of the passengers, the Customs officers recovered 56.26 kgs of fruiting and flowering top of plants purported to be Hydroponic Weed (Cannabis), with an illicit market value of approximately Rs 56.26 crores. The narcotic substances were concealed in the trolley bag carried by the passengers. They were then arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act,” said a Customs official.
The Customs officials recovered 20 packets containing drugs from Ravi, 17 packets from Bharatbhai, 18 packets from Nathabhai, 24 packets from Ramesh and 17 packets from Ram, agency sources said.
“The preliminary investigations carried out so far in accordance with the law and the statement given by the accused persons disclose involvement of other persons who are yet to be traced. The accused persons were aware that smuggling of hydroponic weed and other illegal drugs into India attracts stringent punishment. However, they said they were getting handsome amount of quick and easy money in lieu of smuggling drugs to India,” the official said.
