Mumbai: In two separate cases, the Mumbai Airport Customs officials have arrested two persons and have seized hydroponic weed collectively valued at over Rs 5.20 crore, smuggled from Bangkok.
According to the agency sources, on Saturday, the Customs officers intercepted one passenger Hardik Bhadani, a resident of Surat, on the basis of profiling that he might be carrying some contraband items, after he arrived at CSMI Airport from Bangkok.
Thereafter the search of the baggage carried by the passenger was conducted by the Customs officers. The officers recovered six packets containing greenish coloured dry leafy substance in it from the trolley bag of Bhadani. The seized material tested positive for presence of Hydroponic weed (Cannabis).
Total 2873 grams of Hydroponic weed valued at Rs 2.87 crore was seized on the reasonable belief that it was being smuggled into India. Bhadani told Customs officials that he was aware that smuggling of Hydroponic weed and other illegal drugs into India attracts stringent punishment, however, he was getting a handsome amount of quick and easy money in lieu of smuggling the contraband to India.
In the second case, the Airport Customs officers intercepted one Mohammed Sami, a Delhi resident, after he arrived at CSMI Airport, Mumbai from Bangkok on Saturday on the basis of specific Intelligence that he might be carrying some contraband in his baggage.
The Customs officers then checked Sami's baggage and found 26 packets containing green coloured dry leafy substance in lump form which tested positive for presence of narcotic substance purported to be Hydropane Weed.
Total 2339 grams of hydroponic weed valued at Rs 2.33 crore was seized from Sami's baggage. In his statement to the Customs department, Sami stated that on 04.08.2025, he was sent to Bangkok from Mumbai Airport by one Shahzad to bring one trolley bag and he would be given Rs 50,000 along with other expenses in return after successful delivery of the said trolley bag in Mumbai.
"As the investigation in the case is at a very preliminary stage, efforts are also being made to identify and apprehend key associates of the accused persons. Both the accused have been arrested and further probe is on," said a Customs official.
Public Prosecutor Nazia Shaikh appeared before the court to represent Customs, while Advocate Ashish Singh represented Bhadani.
