Mumbai, March 4 The Customs department has seized narcotic substances, foreign currency, gold, and precious stones worth more than ₹46 crore in separate cases detected over a week at the Mumbai international airport, an official said on Wednesday.
A total of 44.292 kg of suspected hydroponic cannabis, valued at ₹44.292 crore in the illicit market, was recovered in different cases from nine passengers who arrived at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport from Bangkok, the official said.
All these passengers were arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act).
Notably, hydroponic cannabis refers to cannabis cultivated without soil, using nutrient-rich water solutions in an indoor environment.
Additionally, 299 grams of a substance purported to be methaqualone (a psychotropic substance under the NDPS Act), with an estimated illicit market value of ₹74,75,000, was also seized, according to the official.
In five separate cases, Customs department personnel seized foreign and Indian currency equivalent to ₹32,85,668, a total of 455 carats of natural and lab-grown diamonds valued at ₹94,97,300, besides 160.790 grams of 21-karat gold jewelry valued at ₹21,51,473, he said.
Also, 1,203.69 carats of cut and polished natural emeralds, rubies, blue sapphires, amethyst, and multi-stones, valued at ₹15,16,127, were recovered from air passengers. All seizures were made under relevant provisions of the Customs Act and other applicable laws, the official added.