Indian Customs Foil Ganja Smuggling at Lucknow Airport

Customs officials at Lucknow International Airport arrested a passenger traveling from Bangkok via Muscat, suspected of smuggling ganja. Seizing 10.397 kg valued at Rs 10.39 crore, the passenger faces charges under the NDPS Act, 1985. A separate DRI operation in Mumbai apprehended individuals with cocaine valued at Rs 13.295 crore.

In a significant operation, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the Customs department has apprehended a traveler suspected of smuggling narcotics at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow. The individual was intercepted upon arrival from Bangkok via Muscat, raising suspicions among AIU officers who directed him to the Green Channel for X-ray screening and baggage inspection.

During the inspection, authorities unearthed 13 polythene packets containing a green substance, believed to be ganja or hydroponic marijuana, weighing 10.397 kg with a market value of Rs 10.39 crore. Preliminary tests confirmed the substance's identity, prompting the passenger's arrest under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The smuggling attempt has led to the material being seized under the Act, and investigations continue to uncover further details.

In a related development, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in Mumbai executed a twin operation on May 16, thwarting attempts to smuggle cocaine worth approximately Rs 13.295 crore. DRI officials, acting on specific intelligence, seized 1.575 kg of liquid cocaine from a female passenger arriving from Addis Ababa. Meanwhile, an African male passenger, found to have ingested cocaine capsules, was detained after purging 70 capsules totaling 1.084 kg of cocaine. Both individuals have been arrested under the NDPS Act, marking a significant crackdown on drug smuggling efforts. (ANI)