3 weeks ago
Malaysian national held at Chennai airport for smuggling hydroponic ganja
A man from Malaysia flew to India on a plane from Bangkok, landing at Chennai International Airport.
Officers who watch travelers had been told to look out for drugs coming from Thailand.
The man tried to walk out of the airport without declaring anything at customs.
The officers stopped him because he seemed suspicious and gave strange answers.
They searched his bags and found four hidden packets of a strong-smelling green substance.
The packets were tucked into secret false bottoms built into the bags.
The substance was ganja, also called cannabis, a strong plant drug that is not allowed in India, and it weighed more than four kilograms.
The man was arrested and taken to court.
Officials also warned young people to be careful of strangers who offer free trips or easy money for carrying bags, because those bags may hide drugs and could get them into serious trouble.
A Malaysian national was arrested by Chennai Customs for attempting to smuggle high-grade hydroponic cannabis through Chennai International Airport on August 7.
The traveler arrived on a flight from Bangkok and tried to pass through the Green Channel without making mandatory declarations.
Customs recovered four packets of the contraband, concealed inside custom false bottoms in his checked-in bags; one report says 4.33 kg, while the official release gives a net weight of 4,033 grams.
The consignment, valued at Rs 4 crore in the international market, was seized under Section 43(a) of the NDPS Act, 1985, and the passenger was remanded to judicial custody.
Joint Commissioner of Customs K M Guru Rajesh warned youth about smuggling syndicates offering sponsored foreign travel and easy money to carry contraband into India.
- Who
- A Malaysian national (aged around 35, travelling on a tourist visa), arrested by the Air Intelligence Unit of Chennai Customs; advisory issued by Joint Commissioner of Customs K M Guru Rajesh
- What
- Attempted smuggling of over 4 kg of high-grade hydroponic cannabis (ganja), valued at Rs 4 crore, concealed in false-bottomed checked-in baggage
- Where
- Chennai International Airport, India
- When
- Intercepted on August 7; an official release was issued late Saturday night
- Why
- He passed through the Green Channel without declaring the concealed narcotics and is suspected of acting as a courier for an international drug trafficking network
Key facts
- Suspect
- Malaysian national, aged around 35, on a tourist visa
- Contraband
- High-grade hydroponic cannabis (ganja)
- Weight
- 4.33 kg per one report; official release states net weight of 4,033 grams
- Value
- Rs 4 crore (international market)
- Concealment method
- Custom false bottoms in checked-in bags
- Flight origin
- Bangkok
- Legal action
- Seized under Section 43(a) of the NDPS Act, 1985; arrested and remanded to judicial custody
- Incident date
- August 7
Quotes
K M Guru Rajesh
Joint Commissioner of Customs overseeing Chennai Customs
“He said analysis of recent cases reveals that smuggling syndicates frequently target young individuals by funding their travel, accommodation, and other expenses, and subsequently use them to carry and deliver contraband into India.”
theprint.in
Sources
Related news
Hydroponic Ganja Worth Rs. 3 Crore Seized at Chennai Airport
Chennai Authorities Seize 14 Kilograms of Ganja in Two Cases
Mumbai Customs Arrests Two Bangkok Passengers for Smuggling Hydroponic Weed
Mumbai Customs Arrest Two in 14 Kg Hydroponic Weed Smuggling
Mumbai Customs Arrests Man Over 12.7-Kg Cannabis Seizure
Mumbai Customs Arrests Woman for 2.5 Kg Hydroponic Weed Smuggling
Thai School Reopens Under Tight Security After Deadly Shooting
Bangkok Bar Shaves Woman’s Head Over Unpaid $1,800 Bill
Mumbai Customs Arrest Two Women Over Alleged Cannabis Smuggling
DRI Mumbai Busts Gold Smuggling Syndicate, Seizes ₹10.75 Crore
