Mumbai airport Customs seize ₹32 cr hydroponic weed, gold worth ₹73 lakh also recovered from Bangkok fliers

Customs department officials at Mumbai airport have seized hydroponic cannabis valued at about ₹32.68 crore in seven separate cases over a four-day period, according to official sources. Eight passengers arriving from Bangkok were arrested in connection with the seizures.

According to reports, between November 21 and 24, officers carried out spot profiling that led to the recovery of 10.89 kg of suspected hydroponic weed from four passengers on different flights from Bangkok, officials said. The consignment is estimated to be worth about ₹10.89 crore in the illicit market. All four passengers were arrested under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Customs officials also reported four additional cases based on specific intelligence inputs. In these instances, 21.79 kg of suspected hydroponic weed, valued at around ₹21.79 crore, was recovered from four more passengers who had also flown in from Bangkok. They too were arrested under the NDPS Act.

Officials said they are investigating the supply chain behind the smuggling attempts, including who provided the drugs abroad and who was expected to receive them in Mumbai.

In a separate detection, Customs officers seized 608 grams of 24-carat gold worth about ₹73.46 lakh, according to the department.