Mumbai Airport Bust Nets Rs 33.35 Crore Hydroponic Weed

Mumbai Customs seized 33.35 kilograms of hydroponic weed, valued at Rs 33.35 crore, over three days at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), arresting eight individuals in six cases. Hydroponic weed, grown using nutrient-rich water instead of soil, was confiscated during a targeted operation launched on July 8 to curb drug trafficking.

On Wednesday, a passenger was caught with 5.024 kg of hydroponic weed, concealed in vacuum-sealed plastic packets inside a trolley bag. In another case, authorities seized weed worth Rs 2.425 crore and arrested a traveler. That same day, a passenger from Bangkok was detained with 2.481 kg of suspected hydroponic weed, valued at Rs 2.481 crore, while two others from Bangkok were nabbed with 11.891 kg, worth Rs 11.891 crore. Additionally, a receiver collecting the contraband was arrested at the airport’s rickshaw parking lot. Two more cases yielded 11 kg of the narcotic, valued at Rs 11 crore, from two passengers.

All arrests were made under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, with the drugs hidden in checked-in luggage. Last week, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis highlighted the growing challenge of ‘hydro’ ganja, emphasizing intensified state and central efforts to combat the drug trade. On Wednesday, the Maharashtra assembly passed a bill to include drug peddlers under the stringent MCOCA law, bolstering the fight against narcotics crimes.

Also Read: Mumbai’s Sanjay Gandhi National Park Boasts 54 Leopards, Signals Robust Conservation

Also Read: Renowned Tailor Madhav Agasti Honored with Bharat Gaurav Award at British Parliament