Customs officials at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (CCSIA), Lucknow, have seized 13 kilograms of hydroponic marijuana valued at approximately ₹13 crore from a passenger arriving from Muscat. The accused has been arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, marking another significant narcotics interception at an international airport in Uttar Pradesh.
Suspicious Baggage Detected During Screening
According to Customs Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officials, the seizure was made after officers identified suspicious contents in a checked-in bag carried by a passenger travelling on Oman Air flight WY-265 from Muscat. The flight arrived in Lucknow during the early hours of June 1. Subsequent X-ray screening of the baggage revealed packages suspected to contain narcotic substances.
Officials then conducted a detailed examination of the baggage in the presence of the passenger.
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Contraband Hidden Inside Chocolate Packets
During the inspection, Customs officers recovered 10 packets containing hydroponic marijuana. Investigators found that the narcotic substance had been concealed inside five chocolate packets, with each chocolate packet carrying two smaller packets of marijuana.
An official source stated: “The baggage was put under x-ray screening, which revealed the presence of suspected packages. On unzipping the baggage in presence of the accused passenger, the team recovered the hydroponic marijuana.”
Arrest Under NDPS Act
Following the recovery of the contraband, Customs authorities arrested the passenger under Section 43(b) of the NDPS Act on June 1. The accused was subsequently produced before a judicial magistrate on June 2. The court remanded the individual to judicial custody pending further proceedings.
Authorities have not disclosed additional details regarding the identity of the accused or any possible links to a wider trafficking network.
Continued Vigilance Against Drug Smuggling
The seizure highlights ongoing enforcement efforts by Customs authorities to detect and prevent the movement of narcotics through international air routes. The use of advanced screening techniques and baggage profiling continues to play a key role in identifying concealed contraband at airports.
The latest interception comes amid a series of recent hydroponic marijuana seizures at airports in Uttar Pradesh, reflecting heightened surveillance by enforcement agencies against cross-border narcotics trafficking.
