The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Mumbai Airport Customs arrested four individuals of Surat on Monday for allegedly smuggling hydroponic cannabis worth ₹15.85 crore from Bangkok. 

A drug peddler, Virat Patel alias Sunny from Surat had lured four youngsters with a free tour to Bangkok, Thailand, and instructed them to deliver bags filled with hybrid cannabis to Mumbai under the guise of cosmetic products. 

On their return, he instructed them to deliver bags filled with hybrid cannabis to Mumbai, disguised as cosmetic products. 

Upon discovering the contraband, customs officials seized the illegal substances and launched a further investigation.  

The AIU caught them smuggling hydroponic cannabis worth ₹15.85 crore. 

The arrested individuals have been identified as Bhavik Prajapati (25), Dharmik Makwana (22), Ronit Balar (23), and Hitenkumar Kachadia (23), all residents of Surat. 

Based on spot profiling, AIU officials detained these four passengers upon their arrival from Bangkok at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Sunday.  

During an inspection of their luggage, customs officials found eight packets of cannabis in possession of each suspect. The total quantity of hydroponic cannabis recovered weighed 15.84 kilograms, valued at ₹15.85 crore. The seized contraband was confiscated, and a further investigation is underway.  

A customs official stated that the smuggled items were seized in India. The accused were lured into smuggling prohibited substances into the country in exchange for quick and easy money. 

Meanwhile, the suspects admitted that they were aware of the strict legal consequences of smuggling hydroponic cannabis and other illegal drugs into India.  

This modus operandi of drug mafias has led to the arrest of more than 50 youths from south Gujarat under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in the last three months.

The four suspects, who arrived in Mumbai on an Air India flight from Bangkok, have been taken into custody by the customs department and have been placed under judicial custody until March 15.