Kochi Airport Seizes ₹4-Crore Hybrid Cannabis Haul

Customs officials at Kochi International Airport apprehended a 27-year-old man from Thrissur with over 4 kilograms of high-potency hybrid cannabis. The suspect, arriving from Bangkok via Kuala Lumpur, was flagged during routine passenger profiling. A thorough baggage check revealed four vacuum-sealed packets designed to mask the drug’s odor, concealing cannabis valued at over ₹4 crore in the international market, according to officials.

The accused, who has a history of criminal cases, is currently under interrogation to uncover potential accomplices in what authorities suspect is part of a larger smuggling network. Sources indicate he traveled to Thailand for a brief week-long trip specifically to procure the contraband. This seizure follows a string of similar incidents at Kochi, with officials noting a rise in hybrid cannabis smuggling from Thailand, where such strains are cultivated using advanced hydroponic techniques for enhanced potency.

Customs, in collaboration with the Aluva Excise Office, has intensified baggage screenings due to increasing drug trafficking attempts. The suspect was detained at the scene, and the seized cannabis was sent for forensic analysis. Authorities are investigating whether organized crime groups, capitalizing on relaxed cannabis laws in Thailand, are behind the operation. The case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, with further probes underway to dismantle the supply chain.

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