The packets of hydropinic weed that was caught at Pune airport
Pune: In one of the biggest seizures of high-grade hydroponic weed at Pune airport in recent times, Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the customs department on Wednesday arrested a 45-year-old flyer for allegedly smuggling in 10.642kg of the contraband, valued at Rs 3.72 crore in the illicit market. The flyer, who had arrived from Bangkok on an Air India Express flight (IX-291), was intercepted following passenger profiling after customs officials noticed his suspicious behaviour. “The entire consignment, along with the packing material, was seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The passenger was arrested and produced before a judicial magistrate, who remanded him in judicial custody till Nov 18. On Oct 27, customs officials seized 381.27 gm of hashish, a cannabis extract, from another passenger arriving in Pune on the same Air India Express flight from Bangkok.
Preliminary tests using a Narcotic Drug Field Testing kit confirmed the substance to be marijuana or ganja (hydroponic weed). You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Pune | Silver Rate in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune | Petrol Price in Pune | Diesel Price in Pune | CNG Price in Pune | LPG Price in Pune Stay updated with the latest Pune news.
Each packet was further lined with two layers of vacuum-sealed black polythene to evade detection,” a customs official said. Further investigation is under way to identify and bust the syndicate involved in the smuggling attempt,” the official said. Sources said the seizure came amid a spurt in the detection of narcotics at Pune airport, raising concerns about attempts to bring drugs into the city, particularly ahead of Diwali . The quantities being seized are alarming, but customs officials have stepped up surveillance and passenger profiling to prevent such consignments from entering the city,” a source said.
A search of his checked-in baggage led to the discovery of the drugs concealed in packets of noodles. “The contraband was packed in nine rectangular silver-coloured packets bearing retail labels of ‘freeze dried monthong durian’. On opening the packets, officials found yellowish-green dried floral tops emitting a strong pungent odour. “Detection of different types of contraband, including weed and cannabis, has increased recently. The contraband had been concealed inside the passenger’s shoes. He was also intercepted following passenger profiling and a detailed baggage check. Download the TOI App.