In a major crackdown on smuggling activities, customs officers at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) seized narcotics, gold, and foreign currency worth over Rs 32 crore during operations conducted from Monday to Wednesday.

According to officers from Mumbai Customs Zone-3, the seizures were made across seven separate cases based on specific intelligence and passenger profiling.

In the first two cases, customs officers intercepted two passengers arriving from Bangkok by Thai Airways flight TG 351 on Monday. An examination of their baggage led to the recovery of 10.09 kg and 5.74 kg of hydroponic weed (marijuana), valued at Rs 10.09 crore and Rs 5.74 crore, respectively. Both the passengers were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

In another case on the same day, acting on a tip-off from airline staff, officers recovered 3.92 kg of hydroponic weed worth Rs 3.92 crore from the lavatory of Air India flight AI 2338 arriving from Bangkok.

On Tuesday, customs officers intercepted a passenger bound for Dubai via SpiceJet flight SG 13 and seized undeclared foreign currency worth Rs 13.16 lakh (USD 15,000) from his hand baggage.

Further, on Wednesday, officers intercepted a passenger arriving from Muscat by Oman Air flight WY 201 and recovered gold bars weighing 109.8 grams valued at Rs 12.62 lakh.

In another major seizure the same day, two passengers arriving from Dubai by IndiGo flight 6E 1452 were caught smuggling 24-karat gold dust in wax concealed inside socks. The total gold, weighing 1.55 kg, was valued at Rs 1.78 crore. Two receivers waiting outside the airport to collect the smuggled gold were also arrested in follow-up action.

In the final case, customs officers intercepted a passenger from Bangkok on Wednesday and recovered 889 grams of hydroponic weed worth Rs 88.9 lakh, hidden inside a false bottom cavity of a trolley bag.

Officers confirmed that five passengers were arrested under the NDPS Act and the Customs Act, while further investigation is underway to identify the source networks involved in the smuggling operations.

Source