Mumbai: Man Held with Hydroponic Weed Worth ₹10 Crore at Airport, Sent to 14-Day Judicial Custody

In a major drug bust at the city airport, officials of the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) have arrested a passenger for allegedly smuggling over 10 kg of hydroponic weed from Bangkok. The accused has been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody by the court.

According to officials, the accused, identified as Amit Shankar Bhaktyarpuri, was intercepted on April 10 at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport after arriving from Bangkok on an Air India flight.

Based on spot profiling, AIU officers stopped the passenger and conducted a search in the presence of a gazetted officer, as mandated under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. While no contraband was found during his personal search, a detailed inspection of his checked-in baggage led to a major seizure.

Officials found a black, unbranded trolley bag containing 10 layers of transparent sealed plastic packets. Upon opening the packets, they discovered greenish plant material suspected to be hydroponic weed (ganja), emitting a strong odor. Field testing using a drug detection kit confirmed the substance to be a narcotic under the NDPS Act.

The total net weight of the seized contraband was found to be 10.056 kilograms, which falls under the ‘commercial quantity’ category. Authorities estimated the international market value of the seized drugs at approximately ₹10.05 crore.

During interrogation under Section 67 of the NDPS Act, the accused reportedly admitted that the seized contraband belonged to him and that he had brought it from Bangkok. He also confessed that despite knowing the strict legal consequences, he indulged in drug trafficking for quick financial gains.

Based on the evidence, the accused was arrested on April 10 at around 11:00 PM under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, including Sections 8(c), 20(b), 23(b), 28, 29, 30, 35, and 54.

Officials further stated that the investigation is at a preliminary stage, and the involvement of other individuals in the smuggling network is suspected. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend other accused linked to the matter.

The accused was produced before the Holiday Court on Saturday. Advocate Ravi Hirani represented the accused in court.Considering the seriousness of the offence and the ongoing investigation, the prosecution sought judicial custody of the accused. The court has remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody.

Further investigation is in progress.