Custom, Belief

Officers of the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone–III, detected multiple smuggling cases between January 21 and January 29, leading to the seizure of hydroponic weed, gold, diamonds and foreign currency collectively worth several crores of rupees. According to Customs officials, four cases of hydroponic weed were registered based on spot checks, APIS profiling and specific intelligence inputs. In two cases detected through profiling, Customs officers seized a total of 10.561 kg of suspected hydroponic weed, valued at approximately ₹10.56 crore in the illicit market, from two passengers who had arrived from Bangkok. Both passengers were arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. In another two cases based on specific intelligence, Customs seized 15.961 kg of suspected hydroponic weed worth about ₹15.96 crore from two more passengers arriving from Bangkok. The accused were arrested under the NDPS Act. Investigations revealed that the contraband was concealed inside trolley bags carried by the passengers. Apart from NDPS-related cases, Customs officers also detected several cases involving precious metals, gemstones and foreign currency. On January 27, Customs booked a gold smuggling case in which 1,470 grams of 24-carat gold, valued at approximately ₹2.10 crore, was recovered. The case involved a Bangladeshi transit passenger and an airport staff member employed with Hardcastle Restaurants Private Limited (HRPL) at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The gold was allegedly handed over to the airport staff member by the transit passenger. Both were arrested in connection with the case. Officials said the gold was concealed inside the body cavity. In four other gold smuggling cases, Customs seized a total of 2,162 grams of 24-carat gold worth around ₹2.89 crore from four passengers. The accused had concealed the gold inside their clothing. Customs officials also registered a diamond smuggling case in which 10,660 carats (2,132 grams) of diamonds, valued at approximately ₹1.81 crore, were recovered from a passenger. The diamonds were concealed in the check-in baggage. Additionally, three foreign currency smuggling cases were detected, leading to the seizure of foreign currency equivalent to ₹1.18 crore from four passengers. The currency was hidden in both check-in and hand baggage. Further investigations are underway in all cases, Customs officials said.

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