Mumbai Customs seizes hydroponic weed, electronic goods worth Rs 12.97 crore, nine passengers arrested

Mumbai: The Mumbai Customs Department has seized hydroponic weed and electronic goods worth Rs 12.97 crore in a series of operations at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) over four days, officials said on Wednesday.

According to Customs officials, the seizures were made between Saturday and Tuesday based on specific intelligence inputs. The operations led to the arrest of nine passengers – six from Bangkok and three from Sharjah.

In the first set of operations, officers from Mumbai Customs Zone III intercepted three groups of passengers arriving from Bangkok and recovered 12.418 kg of hydroponic weed (marijuana) hidden inside trolley bags. The narcotics, valued at Rs 12.4 crore, were seized under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 and all six passengers were taken into custody.

In a separate case, Customs officers stopped three passengers arriving from Sharjah, leading to the seizure of 40 iPhone 17 Pro Max units, 30 laptops, 12 bottles of liquor and several cigarette packs, collectively valued at Rs 56.55 lakh. The goods were also concealed inside trolley bags, officials said.

The three Sharjah passengers were arrested under provisions of the Customs Act and further investigation is in progress, they added.

(with agency inputs)