Customs officials at Pune International Airport in Maharashtra have seized hydroponic marijuana worth Rs 26.8 crore from a consignment falsely labelled as food items, authorities said on Sunday, reported the PTI.
The seizure was made on March 26 after a shipment arrived from Bangkok. One person has been arrested in connection with the case.
According to officials, the consignment was declared as “Mandarin orange sacs” (orange pulp) and packed in white thermocol boxes. It was listed as food items of Chinese origin.
However, during routine scanning at the air cargo section, officials noticed irregularities in the images, which did not match the declared contents.
Suspicious packaging
According to the PTI, upon opening one of the boxes, officials found sealed tin cans inside. These cans contained a salt-like white, grainy substance.
Further inspection revealed vacuum-sealed transparent packets hidden within the powder. These packets were later identified as containing hydroponic marijuana.
Following the initial discovery, the entire consignment was examined, leading to the recovery of 76.58 kilograms of hydroponic marijuana, as per the PTI.
Authorities estimated the value of the seized drugs at nearly Rs 26.8 crore, making it a significant drug haul.
Probe underway
Hydroponic marijuana is a highly potent and expensive form of cannabis grown using water-based, nutrient-rich solutions instead of soil. It is often associated with higher purity and stronger effects compared to traditional variants.
Customs officials at the airport have launched a detailed investigation to trace the origin and intended recipients of the consignment. Further arrests may follow as authorities examine the supply chain and international links.
Customs seizes hydroponic weed worth Rs 64.39 crore at Mumbai airport
Meanwhile, in an another incident earlier this month, the officers of the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone–III, have arrested four passengers, including one foreign national, under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, for the alleged possession of hydroponic weed. The seizures were made on Tuesday based on spot checks and Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) profiling.
A total of 64.394 kg of suspected hydroponic weed, valued at approximately Rs 64.39 crore in the illicit market, was recovered from the passengers, who had arrived from Bangkok.
(with PTI inputs)