Mumbai: The Mumbai Airport Customs officials on Wednesday arrested a 26-year-old man for allegedly smuggling Hydroponic Weed worth Rs 5 crore sourced from Malaysia.
According to the Customs sources, they intercepted one passenger Shailesh Ukabhai Vankar, a resident of Gandhinagar in Gujarat on the basis of spot profiling under suspicion that he might be carrying some contraband items after he had arrived at CSMI Airport, Mumbai on Tuesday from Malaysia.
The Customs officers searched his trolley bag was found it stuffed with clothes and 05 sealed packets. On cutting the packets the officers found Hydroponic Weed (Marijuana), a substance covered under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. The said material weighed 5024 grams valued at Rs 5.02 crore.
"In his statement Vankar said he was aware that smuggling of Hydroponic Weed (Marijuana) and other illegal drugs into India attracts stringent punishment as per laws prevalent in India. However, he was getting handsome amount of quick and easy money in lieu of smuggling the contraband to India. The preliminary Investigation carried out so far disclose involvement of other persons who are yet to be traced in the commission of the offence. The investigations in the case are at a very preliminary stage and efforts are being made to identify and apprehend key members of the drug cartel," said a Customs source.
