July 13: Customs officials at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, New Delhi, have seized 3.47 kg of suspected hydroponic weed (ganja/marijuana) and arrested an Indian passenger arriving from Bangkok in a narcotics smuggling case.
According to Customs, the operation was carried out by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) after the passenger was identified through Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) profiling. The passenger arrived in Delhi on Air India flight AI 2303 from Bangkok.
Although no contraband was recovered during the examination of the passenger's baggage at the Green Channel, customs officers conducted a thorough search of the aircraft. During the rummaging operation, officials recovered four sealed packets containing suspected hydroponic weed from both rear lavatories of the aircraft.
The recovered narcotic substance weighed 3.47 kg, including packaging.
During questioning, the passenger reportedly admitted to concealing the packets inside the aircraft lavatories.
The accused has been arrested under Section 43(b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, while the suspected marijuana, along with the concealing material and packaging, has been seized under Section 43(a) of the NDPS Act, 1985.
Further investigation is underway to ascertain the source and intended destination of the seized narcotics.
