Five travelers arriving from Bangkok were caught attempting to smuggle drugs at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) on Christmas Day. Indian customs officials seized 26 kilograms of hydroponic marijuana, valued at 26 crores (approximately 104 million baht), cleverly concealed within everyday household items.
Acting on a tip-off, the Indian Customs Department intercepted the suspects as they disembarked their flight. “We had specific intelligence about passengers carrying banned substances. Upon identifying them, we conducted thorough searches,” officials stated.
What they discovered was reminiscent of a crime thriller. The contraband was hidden in double-layered silver plastic pouches, ingeniously camouflaged inside packets of chips, instant noodles, washing powder, and baby diapers—all packed into the passengers’ trolley bags. The drugs, identified as hydroponic marijuana—a high-potency strain cultivated through water-based methods—have a significant street value, highlighting the scale of the operation.
The five suspects were immediately arrested under India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Authorities are now delving deeper into the case, analyzing mobile phone records and interrogating the accused to trace the intended recipients of the smuggled drugs in Mumbai, according to the Hindustan Times.
“This was a carefully orchestrated attempt to evade detection, but our team’s vigilance ensured the contraband didn’t reach the streets,” an official commented.
credit indiaexpress
