Foul Smell At Mumbai Airport Leads To Rs 8 Crore Drug Bust, 4 Arrested
When the passengers were collecting their bags and attempted to exit through the green channel, meant for those with nothing to declare, they were intercepted by customs officers
A foul odour at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport triggered an unexpected drug bust, leading to the arrest of four passengers who had just landed from an international flight. Authorities say the operation unfolded after a vigilant official from the Air Intelligence Unit detected a suspicious stench near the baggage claim area.
According to sources, the four individuals were waiting by the baggage belt after disembarking from their flight when the official, trained to recognise certain narcotics by smell, noticed the unusual odour. He immediately alerted customs personnel stationed near the terminal's green channel.
When the passengers proceeded to collect their bags and attempted to exit through the green channel, meant for those with nothing to declare, they were intercepted by customs officers. A detailed examination of their luggage revealed multiple packets of hydroponic weed weighing a total of 8.012 kgs.
The estimated street value of the seized contraband is around Rs 8 crore, officials said. All four passengers were arrested on the spot.
'Hydroponic weed," a senior customs official explained, 'is a high-grade variant of cannabis cultivated using specialised techniques. It's significantly more potent and expensive than conventional ganja, making it highly sought after in the black market."
The arrests have raised concerns within security agencies about a growing trend of high-grade narcotics being smuggled into India through commercial air travel. Investigators are currently interrogating the suspects to determine whether they were acting independently or are part of a larger international drug syndicate.
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August 02, 2025, 16:16 IST
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