Chennai Customs busts drug syndicate, seizes ganja from air passengers

Customs authorities at Chennai airport busted a drug racket and seized a huge quantity of ganja from passengers recently.

On January 31, based on spot profiling and targeted baggage screening, officers of Chennai Customs intercepted two male passengers upon their arrival from Hanoi to Chennai via Kuala Lumpur on Malaysian Airways. On rescreening, their checked-in baggage was found to contain banned substances.

During preliminary inquiry, both passengers admitted they were acting as carriers and were to deliver the baggage containing 11 kg of ganja to a person outside the airport. Examination of their mobile phones yielded information regarding one co-passenger.

Thereafter, in a joint operation with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the police, the authorities intercepted the co-passenger about 50 km away from the airport and seized 4 kg of ganja from his possession.

The Customs said the intended receiver and mastermind behind the smuggling attempt was initially absconding. Following sustained follow-up, the receiver was traced and arrested by the NCB on February 3 in Thiruvananthapuram. All four have been arrested under the provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

In another case, the intelligence officers of Chennai Customs, Air Intelligence Unit (AIU), arrested two male passengers arriving from Bangkok by a Thai Airways flight at Chennai airport on February 5.

Examination of their checked-in baggage led to the recovery of 14 airtight packets concealed inside food items. The packets contained approximately 10 kg of green flowering and fruiting tops, suspected to be ganja, hidden among their personal belongings.

During preliminary enquiry, both the passengers admitted they were carrying the contraband to deliver it outside the airport in exchange for money.