Hydroponic Cannabis Worth Rs 1.85 Crore Seized at Bhubaneswar Airport, Four Detained

 Bhubaneswar: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Customs officials on Saturday seized 5.291 kg of hydroponic cannabis, valued at around Rs 1.85 crore in the illicit market, at Biju Patnaik International Airport here and detained four passengers arriving from Bangkok in connection with the smuggling attempt.

The seizure was made following checks on passengers arriving from the Thai capital. Officials recovered six packets containing 4.877 kg of suspected cannabis concealed in specially created compartments in the check-in baggage of three passengers.

The fourth passenger was found carrying another 414 grams of the suspected narcotic substance concealed inside a can labelled “dog food,” officials said.

Initially, nothing suspicious was detected in the fourth passenger’s baggage. However, further examination of the luggage led officials to the can, which aroused their suspicion. The Customs dog squad was subsequently called in to inspect the container.

Rubel, a sniffer dog from the Indian Customs K9 squad, was exposed to the substance seized earlier and then deployed to examine the can. The dog gave a positive indication, prompting officials to open the container, from which they recovered another 414 grams of the suspected contraband.

Subsequent examination confirmed the seized substance as cannabis, taking the total recovery to 5.291 kg, with an estimated illicit-market value of Rs 1.85 crore.

The four passengers, along with the seized contraband, were handed over to the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Bhubaneswar Customs for further investigation and legal action.

The seizure highlights the continuing efforts of enforcement agencies to detect the smuggling of narcotic substances through international air routes. The use of trained sniffer dogs also proved crucial in detecting the concealed consignment that had initially escaped routine scrutiny.