A Malaysian passenger was detained at Chennai airport after customs officers allegedly found 4,033g of hydroponic cannabis hidden in checked luggage.
PETALING JAYA: A Malaysian national has been detained at Chennai International Airport in India after allegedly attempting to smuggle more than 4kg of hydroponic cannabis into the country.
According to Chennai Customs, the passenger arrived from Bangkok on Aug 7 and attempted to leave the airport without declaring any goods, Harian Metro reported.
The individual was stopped by officers from the Air Intelligence Unit following a profiling exercise.
An X-ray examination of the passenger’s checked luggage revealed suspicious images, leading officers to carry out a detailed inspection.
“Further checks uncovered four packages containing greenish, lumpy material with a strong odour, believed to be high-grade hydroponic cannabis.
“The packages had been concealed in a specially constructed compartment at the base of the checked baggage,” Chennai Customs said in a statement issued through India’s Press Information Bureau.
The substance, weighing 4,033g, was tested using a drug detection kit and returned a positive result for cannabis.
The drugs were subsequently seized under Section 43(a) of India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985.
Hydroponic cannabis is cultivated without soil using nutrient-enriched water and is commonly grown indoors under controlled conditions, including regulated lighting, temperature and humidity.
