Mumbai, March 19 The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) has arrested four passengers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport here for allegedly smuggling 64.394 kilograms of hydroponic cannabis worth more than Rs 64 crore, an official said on Thursday.
The consignment had reportedly been brought in from Bangkok, the AIU official added.
"There has been a significant increase in cases of hydroponic cannabis smuggling from Bangkok over the past few months. In response, Customs launched a special surveillance operation at the international airport to curb such activities. This involves subjecting all suspicious passengers arriving from Bangkok to detailed scrutiny and checks," the official said.
During the operation on Wednesday, four suspects, comprising three Indians and one foreign citizen, were intercepted and taken for questioning, and a thorough search of their luggage led to the recovery of 64.394 kg of hydroponic cannabis, with an estimated international market value of Rs 64.39 crore, he said.
"During interrogation, the accused revealed that the consignment had been handed over to them by an individual in Bangkok, with instructions to deliver it to associates in Mumbai. The four have been arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Further investigation into the smuggling network is underway," the official informed.
Hydroponic farming is a soil-less cultivation technique in which plants are grown in nutrient-rich water.