Lucknow: In a major operation, the customs air intelligence unit (AIU) at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (CCSIA) in Lucknow seized 13 kilograms of hydroponic marijuana valued at approximately Rs 13 crore from a passenger arriving from Muscat. The accused has been arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Details of the Seizure
According to an official source from the AIU, the seizure occurred when on-duty officers detected suspicious contents in a check-in bag carried on Oman Air flight WY-265, which arrived from Muscat in the early hours of Monday. The baggage was subjected to x-ray screening, which revealed the presence of suspected packages. Upon unzipping the bag in the presence of the accused passenger, the team recovered the hydroponic marijuana.
The AIU sleuths recovered 10 packets containing hydroponic marijuana. These packets were cleverly concealed inside five chocolate packets, with each chocolate packet containing two smaller packets of the narcotic substance.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Following the seizure, the accused passenger was arrested under Section 43(b) of the NDPS Act on June 1. The accused was produced before a judicial magistrate on Tuesday and was remanded to judicial custody.
This operation underscores the vigilance of customs officials at Lucknow airport in combating drug trafficking. The hydroponic marijuana, known for its high potency, is often smuggled in sophisticated concealments.
