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New Indian Express
27-04-2025
- New Indian Express
Customs foils bid to smuggle hybrid ganja at Kochi airport
KOCHI: In a major drug bust, the Commissionerate of Customs (Preventive) unit has foiled an attempt to smuggle 5.5kg of hybrid ganja through the Kochi airport and arrested Malappuram native Shibu A K. The accused was scheduled to fly to Ras-Al-Khaimah in UAE on Thursday. Acting on a tip-off, the officers intercepted Shibu at the airport's departure hall. The ganja was found concealed in 12 packets inside his trolley bag. The seized drug is valued at approximately Rs 5.5 crore. Customs officials suspect that Shibu was acting as a carrier for a narcotics network trafficking drugs to the UAE. Investigators revealed that the hybrid ganja had been sourced from Bangkok and was being smuggled to the UAE, where it commands a higher price. 'This is the first time a person has been arrested for attempting to smuggle hybrid ganja out of Kerala to a foreign country. It points to the existence of a drug trafficking network operating from the state,' a customs officer said. Typically, hybrid ganja seizures at the airport involve passengers arriving from Bangkok. Shibu was produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody. Customs officials plan to seek his custody for a detailed interrogation.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Time of India
`5-crore hybrid ganja seized at Kochi airport
1 2 3 4 Kochi: In a major drug seizure at the Kochi airport, Customs Preventive intercepted a Malappuram native who was about to board a flight to the UAE with hybrid ganja costing more than Rs 5 crore. The ganja was smuggled into India from Thailand. Sources said that acting on specific intelligence, officers of the high-performance unit (HPU), Customs Cochin Preventive Commissionerate (CCP), intercepted the passenger, Shibu AK of Malappuram, bound for Ras Al-Khaimah, UAE, from Kochi airport on Thursday. The passenger was scheduled to travel by Flight 6E 1493. Based on reasonable suspicion, the officers extensively examined the passenger's trolley bag at the departure hall, which led to the recovery of approximately 5,500g of hybrid ganja (hydroponic weed) valued at around Rs 5.5 crore in international market. The narcotic substance was ingeniously concealed inside food packets. "It is arguably for the first time that such a huge quantity of hydroponic weed is being caught while attempting to be smuggled out of the country. As per information, the rackets first smuggle it into India from Bangkok and then smuggle it to Gulf countries to exploit a bigger profit margin. They are attempting such smuggling despite many Gulf countries handing capital punishment for drug smuggling," said a Customs officer. Official sources said Customs has information that similar attempts are being made to smuggle out hydroponic weed from airports in Kerala. Subsequently, officials increased vigilance to prevent such smuggling. Customs have also repeatedly intercepted hybrid weed when it was smuggled into the country from Thailand. Hybrid ganja or hydroponic weed is carefully selected strains of cannabis grown in a controlled atmosphere using techniques like hydroponics. It is grown in a greenhouse-like environment with air-conditioning and artificial lighting. This type of ganja is mostly imported from countries like Thailand.
