The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Sunday said that it has seized 39.2 kg of hydroponic weed from passengers, who arrived at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) on Sunday, an official said, reported the PTI.

The Mumbai zonal unit of the DRI also apprehended one person who had come to the airport to collect the contraband, the official said.

Based on a tip-off, the authorities intercepted two Indian nationals travelling from Bangkok, Thailand, and on searching their luggage, found 39 packets containing a green substance concealed inside, he said, according to the PTI.

The substance was later found to be hydroponic weed, the official said.

The accused have been arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and further probe is underway, he said.

Hydroponic weed worth Rs 13.83 crore seized by Mumbai Customs at city airport; two arrested

Meanwhile, in an another cases, last week, On the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, the Airport Commissionerate at Mumbai Customs Zone-3, seized 13.83 kg of hydroponic weed worth Rs 13.83 crore in two separate cases, the officials had earlier said.

Two people have been arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, following the seizures, they said.

According to the Mumbai Customs, in the first case, customs officers intercepted a passenger from Bangkok on flight VZ-760 on Sunday, September 7, based on specific intelligence. While examining his baggage, the officers recovered 2.002 kg of suspected hydroponic weed, valued around Rs 2 crore. The drug was concealed inside the accused’s checked-in trolley bag.

“The passenger was arrested following the seizure of the contraband,” said an official.

The Mumbai Customs further said that in the second case at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), based on passenger profiling, customs officers intercepted another passenger arriving from Bangkok on flight UL-143 on Monday. Upon examining the baggage, the officers recovered 11.834 kg of hydroponic weed, with an estimated market value of Rs 11.83 crore.

“The contraband was hidden inside the checked-in trolley bag. The passenger was arrested under the NDPS Act, 1985,” an official had earlier said.

(with PTI inputs)

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