Customs seize hydroponic weed, diamonds and gold valued at Rs 14 crore at Mumbai airport

Mumbai: Customs officials at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport have seized hydroponic cannabis, diamonds and gold valued at nearly Rs 14 crore in multiple cases over a two-day period and arrested several people, including an airport staff member, officials said on Saturday.

The seizures were carried out in separate operations between December 30 and December 31 by teams from the Airport Commissionerate of Mumbai Customs Zone-III.

In one case, officers intercepted a passenger arriving from Bangkok and recovered 8.008 kg of suspected hydroponic weed, estimated to be worth around Rs 8 crore in the illegal market. The passenger was arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

In another operation involving a Bangkok-bound arrival, Customs officials seized 1.946 kg of suspected hydroponic weed valued at approximately Rs 1.95 crore. The accused passenger was taken into custody, officials said.

Hydroponic weed is a high-potency and costly variant of ganja grown using nutrient-rich water solutions instead of soil.

Customs officials also recovered 849.6 carats of diamonds worth about Rs 2.52 crore from a passenger. The diamonds were allegedly hidden inside the passenger’s body cavity.

In a separate case, 1,470 grams of 24-carat gold dust in wax form, valued at around Rs 1.87 crore, was seized from a passenger along with an employee of Air India Airport Services Limited (AIASL). Officials said the gold dust had been passed between two passengers, including a Bangladeshi transit traveller, before being handed over to the AIASL staffer within the airport premises.

Additionally, Customs booked a passenger after recovering 89 grams of 24-carat gold in the form of rhodium-plated buttons, valued at Rs 11.35 lakh.

Acting on specific intelligence, officials also intercepted two passengers and seized 160 grams of 24-carat gold worth Rs 20.41 lakh.

(with inputs from agencies)