New Delhi, Sep 16 (UNI) The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 39.2 kg of hydroponic weed at Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai on 13-14 Sep as part of ongoing pan-India ‘Operation Weed Out’, an official statement said here today.
“Three persons have been arrested in a coordinated operation under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985. Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers intercepted two Indian nationals arriving from Bangkok. Thorough examination of their checked-in baggage led to the recovery of 39 packets weighing 39.2kg of hydroponic cannabis,” the statement said.
In another case based on specific intelligence, DRI officers seized 7.8 kg of hydroponic weed being smuggled from Bangkok to Mumbai and arrested two passengers under the relevant provisions of the NDPS Act 1985.
The statement said DRI has separately made seizures of 61.67 kg of Hydroponic Weed being smuggled from Bangkok into India at different locations including Jaipur, Lucknow and Kolkata during the period of August 26 to September 12.
It may be recalled that earlier in the Pan-India operation on August 20 and 21, DRI had seized a total of 72.024 kg hydroponic weed worth around Rs 72 crore along with illegal proceeds of Rs 1.02 crore and had arrested 5 persons, including financiers and mastermind, under the provisions of the NDPS Act 1985, the statement added.
‘Hydroponic Weed’ refers to cannabis grown without soil, using a nutrient-rich water solution to deliver nutrients to the plants.
The DRI is India’s primary anti-smuggling and economic intelligence agency operating under the Ministry of Finance, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
