Customs Officials Seize 30kg of Hydroponic Weed Worth Rs 30 Crore in Mumbai and Pune
Mumbai/Pune, 27th December 2024: In two separate cases, customs officials in Mumbai and Pune intercepted six passengers arriving from Bangkok and seized 30kg of hydroponic marijuana valued at ₹30 crore. The seizures took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, highlighting a rise in the smuggling of this high-value contraband, which is legally available in Thailand.
According to officials, Mumbai customs have confiscated 115.5kg of hydroponic marijuana worth ₹115.5 crore in the past three months, leading to the arrest of over 40 individuals. “We are noticing an increase in the smuggling of hydroponic weed, which is sold at low prices in Thailand but fetches a significantly higher value in India. In Thailand, it is priced around ₹1,870 per kg, but in India, the street price can go up to ₹10,000 per kg,” said a senior customs official.
In Pune, customs officials arrested Misrad Vadakaeveetil Abdul Majeed, who was found with 4kg of hydroponic weed concealed in everyday food items, including cornflakes, coffee, and Thai tea boxes. The contraband has been valued at approximately ₹4.2 crore.
Meanwhile, customs officers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai arrested five passengers and seized 26kg of hydroponic marijuana worth ₹26.5 crore. The illegal substance was hidden in creative disguises, including silver-colored plastic packets concealed within packaging for chips, washing powder, diapers, and instant noodles.
“Smugglers are using increasingly innovative methods to conceal and transport contraband. These recent cases demonstrate the lengths to which they go to evade detection,” an official involved in the investigation said.
