Chennai airport officials seize hydroponic ganja worth Rs 5 crore
An Indian passenger arriving from Bangkok was arrested on Monday with 4.97kg of suspected cannabis.
Customs officials at Chennai airport seized 4.97kg of suspected hydroponically cultivated cannabis from an Indian passenger arriving from Bangkok on Monday, according to reports by Urban Acres and The Times of India.
The contraband, valued at approximately Rs 5 crore in the illicit market, was found during a search of the passenger's checked-in trolley suitcase. Officials discovered 10 transparent packets containing green flowering and fruiting tops hidden inside food packets.
A preliminary test using a narcotics field drug testing kit verified the substance as cannabis. The Chennai Customs Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) arrested the passenger, who has been remanded to judicial custody.
This incident marks the third recovery of hydroponic ganja at the airport in one week. On October 30, officials recovered 4.877kg from an Indian woman arriving from Kuala Lumpur, and on October 29, an Indian passenger from Bangkok was arrested with 1.478kg.
Officials stated that smuggling syndicates often target young people by paying for their travel and accommodation to transport contraband into India. They warned that such activities carry stringent punishments and long-term legal consequences.
The material was seized under Section 43 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. An investigation into the smuggling network is currently under way.