An Indian national was apprehended at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad for carrying 20.366 kilograms of marijuana concealed in vacuum-sealed packets in his checked baggage. The arrest followed intelligence inputs from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and passenger profiling.
The individual, hailing from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, had flown in from Bangkok on Thai Airways flight TG-343. Upon inspection of his trolley bag, officials discovered 19 vacuum-sealed packets containing a green, plant-like substance, later confirmed to be marijuana.
The seized contraband, valued at approximately Rs 20 crore in the illicit market, was confiscated under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The passenger was taken into custody and charged under the NDPS Act, with the case now under the purview of the DRI for further investigation.
Authorities highlighted a recurring trend of narcotics smuggling via Southeast Asian routes, with recent cases involving passengers arriving from Bangkok. In a similar incident on May 17, the AIU seized 6.54 kg of marijuana from a traveler on the same flight route, emphasizing the need for vigilance in combating drug trafficking.
