Customs officials at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport have busted two separate international drug smuggling attempts, recovering hydroponic weed worth Rs 5.17 crore and suspected MDMA tablets weighing more than 25 kg from passengers arriving from Southeast Asian countries.
Acting on specific intelligence shared by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Customs officials intercepted a passenger arriving from Bangkok and recovered a large quantity of hydroponic weed valued at over Rs 5 crore.
According to officials, the passenger arrived on the night of May 9/10 aboard Thai Lion Air flight SL-214. During screening, Customs officials conducted an X-ray examination of the passenger’s baggage, leading to the recovery of 5,176 grams (5.176 kg) of hydroponic weed (ganja).
Officials said the seized contraband is estimated to be worth around Rs 5.176 crore in the international market. The narcotic substance was seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The passenger was immediately taken into custody and formally arrested. Further investigations are underway to trace the source and possible network involved in the smuggling attempt.
In another case, Customs officials arrested a passenger arriving from Cambodia after recovering suspected narcotic tablets weighing over 25 kg from his baggage on the intervening night of May 6 and 7.
According to officials, the passenger arrived via Kuala Lumpur on flight MH-118. The interception was carried out on the basis of Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) profiling by Customs officials. During a detailed examination and X-ray screening of the passenger’s baggage, officials recovered tablets weighing 25.25 kg suspected to be methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a narcotic drug and psychotropic substance.
Officials said the tablets had been cleverly concealed inside four soft toys to evade detection. The recovered substance was seized under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985. The passenger was taken into custody and formally arrested by Customs authorities. Further investigations are underway to identify the source and intended recipients of the consignment.
