Bhubaneswar, July 29: In one of the biggest drug busts at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate on Tuesday detained three passengers arriving from Bangkok and seized hydroponic marijuana valued at over Rs 30 crore from their possession.
The detained passengers have been identified as Mohammad Jam, Mohit and Bamti, all natives of Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra.
As per reports, the operation to apprehend the mules took place during a routine baggage check, where the contraband was intercepted. The three individuals were caught smuggling a highly potent variety of ganja, carefully hidden in six suitcases. They were aboard Indigo flight 6E-1066 from Bangkok.
The total value of the seized marijuana is estimated to be over Rs 30 crore, with the market price around Rs 1 crore per kg.
The customs officials have stated that the detained individuals are being questioned to find out where the drugs came from and where they were headed.
They confirmed that the seized marijuana was grown using a hydroponic system, a method that doesn’t use soil and produces stronger, higher-yielding plants, making it more expensive.
Further investigation into the matter was underway.
