Major Customs Operation at Airport, Hydroponic Marijuana Worth ₹14 Crore Seized
Two passengers arriving from Qatar detained at Hyderabad’s RGIA; 14 kg of high-grade contraband recovered
Major Customs Operation at Airport, Hydroponic Marijuana Worth ₹14 Crore Seized
Two passengers arriving from Qatar detained at Hyderabad’s RGIA; 14 kg of high-grade contraband recovered
Hyderabad: In a major crackdown, Customs officials at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) seized hydroponic marijuana worth approximately ₹14 crore on Friday. According to officials, the prohibited substance was recovered from two passengers arriving from Qatar. The seized hydroponic marijuana is estimated to be worth around ₹14 crore in the international market.
Acting on suspicion, Customs officers intercepted the two passengers and sent their baggage for detailed scanning and physical examination. During the screening process, packets of hydroponic marijuana concealed inside the luggage were detected. The total quantity of the seized contraband was 14 kilograms.
Both passengers have been taken into custody and are being questioned. Officials are also probing their possible links to international drug syndicates. This latest seizure comes just two days after Customs officials confiscated one kilogram of hydroponic marijuana from a flight. In that incident, it was reported that a passenger had abandoned the drugs on a seat fearing detection during checking.
Hydroponic marijuana is considered a high-grade and expensive narcotic substance. Officials noted a recent surge in attempts to smuggle hydroponically grown marijuana into India from abroad. Agencies including the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and others have intensified surveillance at international airports.
Last year in July, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized 400 kilograms of hydroponic marijuana from the baggage of a female passenger at RGIA, with the contraband valued at around ₹40 crore.
Based on specific intelligence inputs, NCB officials intercepted the woman and recovered the narcotics from her two check-in bags. Investigations revealed that she had procured the drugs from Bangkok and returned to India via Dubai in an attempt to evade suspicion.
