Mumbai, November 5: The Customs Department (Customs) team seized narcotics worth over โน 13 crore and foreign currency worth โน 87 lakh in five separate cases at Mumbai airport. The Customs Department has arrested five accused in these five cases.
The Customs officer investigating the case said on Wednesday that based on confidential information, his department’s team was conducting surveillance at Mumbai airport from November 1 to November 4. On the first day of this surveillance, the Customs team stopped a passenger coming from Colombo and searched his luggage. During the search of the passenger’s luggage, 2.568 kg of hydroponic weed (marijuana) was recovered, worth approximately Rs 2.56 crore. These drugs were hidden inside a trolley bag. The passenger was arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
On the second day of special surveillance at Mumbai Airport, a Customs team intercepted a passenger arriving from Bangkok. During baggage checks, they found 2.39 kg of hydroponic weed, worth approximately โน2.39 crore, hidden inside packets of chocolates and chips. The passenger was arrested under the NDPS Act. On the third day of the special search operation, a Customs team recovered 1.144 kg of hydroponic weed, worth โน1.14 crore, hidden in shampoo bottles from a passenger arriving from Bangkok. The individual was arrested under the NDPS Act.
Similarly, on the fourth day of the special search operation, a Customs team apprehended another passenger arriving from Bangkok with 6.975 kg of hydroponic weed, worth โน6.97 crore, concealed in a trolley bag. On the fifth day of the operation, the customs team recovered foreign currency (US dollars) worth โน8.7 million hidden in a passenger’s trolley bag. The individual was arrested under the Customs Act, 1962. All these passengers have been arrested and further investigation is underway.