Woman held at Mumbai airport for smuggling hydroponic weed worth Rs 11.82 cr

Customs officials at Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport have arrested a 28yearold woman for allegedly attempting to smuggle more than 11 kg of hydroponic weed into India from Thailand reported IANSThe seized narcotic substance valued at approximately Rs 1182 crore in the international illicit drug market was recovered during a surveillance operation based on passenger profiling and baggage inspection officials said reported IANSPassenger intercepted after arriving from BangkokAccording to Customs authorities the woman arrived in Mumbai on a flight from Bangkok and was selected for additional screening during routine surveillance procedures reported IANSOfficials said her travel profile and movements raised suspicion prompting a more detailed examination of her baggage after arrivalDuring the inspection Customs officers discovered multiple concealed packets inside her luggage leading to the seizure of a substantial quantity of narcotic substancesMore than 11 kg of hydroponic weed recoveredA thorough search of the passengers trolley bag resulted in the recovery of 12 vacuumsealed transparent plastic packets reported IANSThe packets were found to contain hydroponic weed a highpotency form of cannabis that is often trafficked internationally due to its high market valueAccording to officials the total quantity seized was 11824 kilograms reported IANSHydroponic weed is cultivated using specialised growing techniques and is generally considered more potent than conventional cannabis varieties making it a frequently targeted substance in antinarcotics operationsAccused taken into custody under NDPS ActFollowing the seizure the woman was taken into custody and questioned by Customs officialsAuthorities said the accused is employed as a relationship manager with a private company Investigators are now examining her travel history and possible links to international drug trafficking networks reported IANSA case has been registered against her under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances NDPS ActShe was subsequently produced before a court which remanded her to judicial custody pending further investigationAuthorities probe possible trafficking networkOfficials indicated that the investigation will focus on identifying the source of the narcotics and determining whether the accused was acting independently or as part of a larger smuggling syndicate reported IANSCustoms authorities are also examining communication records travel patterns and financial transactions to uncover any wider network involved in transporting drugs into India through international airports reported IANSThe seizure is being viewed as a significant success in ongoing efforts to curb narcotics trafficking through major aviation hubsRecent seizures highlight growing concernThe latest case comes amid a series of major drug seizures at airports across the country in recent weeksOn June 8 Customs officials at Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport intercepted two passengers arriving from Kuala Lumpur and recovered 1538 kg of suspected hydroponic weed concealed inside two geysers The passengers were stopped after crossing the Green Channel and subjected to detailed baggage checks based on intelligence inputs and profiling reported IANSIn another operation on May 23 Customs officers at the Delhi airport intercepted two Thai nationals arriving from Bangkok and allegedly recovered nearly 48 kg of suspected hydroponic weed from their luggage Authorities said approximately 29 kg was seized from one passenger and around 19 kg from the other reported IANSCustoms intensifies antidrug operationsOfficials said recent seizures indicate that international drug trafficking syndicates continue to use passenger routes from Southeast Asia to smuggle narcotics into India reported IANSIn response Customs authorities have intensified surveillance passenger profiling and intelligencebased operations at major international airportsThe department stated that efforts to detect and prevent the illegal movement of narcotic substances remain a priority with increased scrutiny of highrisk routes and passengers as part of its antismuggling strategyWith inputs from IANS