Malaysian Held With Rs 4-cr Hydroponic Cannabis at Chennai Airport

Chennai: The Customs officials at Chennai International Airport have seized 4.33 kg of high-grade hydroponic cannabis, valued at Rs 4 crore in the international market, from a Malaysian national who allegedly smuggled in the contraband from Thailand.

Following a tip-off that a large consignment of narcotics was being transported from Thailand, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the Customs Department stepped up surveillance at the airport.

The Malaysian national, aged around 35, arrived at Chennai on a late-night flight from Bangkok on Saturday. He was travelling on a tourist visa and, after collecting his baggage, attempted to leave the airport through the green channel after declaring that he was not carrying any dutiable goods.

However, AIU officials, who were monitoring passengers arriving from Bangkok, became suspicious of his movements and intercepted him. During questioning, he gave contradictory replies, following which the officials took him to the Customs examination area and conducted a detailed search of his baggage.

The search of his suitcase led to the recovery of four packets concealed inside. The packets contained 4.33 kg of hydroponic cannabis, worth Rs 4 crore.

He was subsequently arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and the entire consignment was seized.

Further interrogation revealed that the passenger was allegedly working as a courier for an international drug trafficking network. He is suspected to have collected the consignment from members of the network in Thailand and transported it to Chennai on their instructions.

Officials are now investigating the intended recipient of the consignment in Chennai and the local network. They are also probing the identity and whereabouts of the international drug trafficking syndicate behind the shipment.