Bhubaneswar, Jul 7: In a major anti-smuggling operation, officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and the Customs Department seized a large consignment of marijuana at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar.

The contraband was intercepted during baggage screening of a passenger who had arrived from Bangkok. Officials became suspicious during the inspection and recovered marijuana concealed in the passenger's luggage. The seized narcotics are estimated to be worth around Rs 5 crore in the international market.

The passenger has been detained by the Customs Department for questioning, while investigators are trying to determine the intended destination of the consignment and identify the individuals or network behind the smuggling attempt.

Officials are probing whether the drugs were meant to be delivered within Bhubaneswar or elsewhere, who had placed the order, and whether the detained passenger was acting alone or was part of a larger drug trafficking syndicate. Investigators are also examining the possible involvement of an organised international narcotics racket in the operation.

Further investigation is underway to trace the entire supply chain and identify other persons connected to the smuggling attempt.