CHENNAI: In the third seizure within a week, customs sleuths at Chennai airport thwarted yet another attempt to smuggle hydroponic ganja into the country, arresting an Indian passenger who arrived from Bangkok with 4.97kg of the contraband, valued at around Rs 5 crore in the illicit market.The air intelligence unit (AIU) of Chennai customs intercepted the passenger on Monday based on spot profiling. During a detailed examination of his checked-in baggage, officials found 10 transparent packets containing green-coloured flowering and fruiting tops, suspected to be hydroponically cultivated cannabis (ganja).The packets, weighing 4,970 grams, had been concealed inside food packets placed in his trolley suitcase. A preliminary test using a narcotics field drug testing kit confirmed the presence of cannabis. Customs officials seized the contraband under Section 43 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The passenger was arrested and remanded to judicial custody. Further investigation is under way.On Oct 30, customs officials recovered 4.877kg of hydroponic ganja from an Indian woman arriving from Kuala Lumpur. The 15 packets were concealed inside eight food and product packets in her checked-in trolley bag. She was arrested and remanded in judicial custody. Previously, an Indian passenger returning from Bangkok was arrested with 1.478kg of hydroponic ganja on Oct 29.Officials said smuggling syndicates frequently targeted young people by funding their travel, accommodation and other expenses and then using them to transport and deliver contraband into India. They warned that involvement in such activities could attract stringent punishment and have long-term legal consequences.
