Mumbai Airport Bust! Rs 9.53 Crore Weed Haul and Gold Smugglers Nabbed in Double Sting

In a dramatic crackdown, Customs officials at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport arrested three passengers in two separate operations, confiscating hydroponic weed worth Rs 9.53 crore and gold valued at Rs 53.83 lakh.

The seizures, executed with precision, underscore Mumbai’s role as a hotbed for smuggling—and the authorities’ resolve to choke it off.

The first bust unfolded on April 6 when a passenger arriving from Bangkok was intercepted. Hidden inside his trolley bag was 9.532 kilograms of hydroponic weed, a potent, lab-grown cannabis fetching a street value of Rs 9.53 crore. Officials suspect it was destined for the city’s underground market, a growing hub for such contraband. “The concealment was clever, but not clever enough,” a Customs source remarked.

In a second operation, two travelers from Dubai were nabbed with 789 grams of 21-karat crude gold pieces, worth Rs 53.83 lakh, stuffed into their undergarments. The crude gold, likely meant for illicit refining, highlights a classic smuggling tactic. “We’re seeing bolder attempts,” the official added. All three now face charges under customs and narcotics laws, with probes underway to unravel the networks fueling these multimillion-rupee hauls.