Mumbai, June 20: In a major bust at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai Customs officials seized 24.96 kg of hydroponic weed worth ₹24.66 crore, smuggled from Thailand, and arrested three persons, including two air passengers and a receiver waiting outside the terminal.
According to officials from Mumbai Customs (Zone III), the seizure was made late Wednesday after two passengers arriving from Bangkok were intercepted at the airport following a specific intelligence input. On inspecting their baggage, customs teams discovered the contraband—vacuum-sealed packages of high-grade, hydroponically grown cannabis.
“The passengers were carrying the hydroponic weed in their checked-in baggage, cleverly concealed in layers of plastic and vacuum packaging. On interrogation, they revealed the involvement of a third person, who was waiting outside the airport to collect the consignment,” said a senior customs officer involved in the operation.
The third accused, described as the receiver of the shipment, was tracked down and arrested shortly after. All three accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Preliminary investigations suggest the involvement of a transnational drug syndicate operating a smuggling route between Thailand and India, officials confirmed. Authorities are now probing deeper into the network, including potential links with other international couriers and local distributors.
Hydroponic weed, the substance seized, is a high-potency variant of cannabis cultivated through soil-free, nutrient-rich water-based systems. Its purity and strength often command high value in the illegal market.
“This bust not only exposes a growing trend of high-grade cannabis trafficking through commercial air routes but also underlines the need for enhanced scrutiny on international passenger movement,” the official added.
Further investigation is underway to identify additional suspects and dismantle the network behind the operation.
