Hydroponic ganja from Thailand new headache for Chennai airport security

CHENNAI: Hydroponic cannabis (ganja) is the newest headache for officials of the directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI) at Chennai airport. Valued at 1 crore a kg, this highly potent variety of ganja has started to enter the state through Chennai airport at frequent intervals.

This month alone, 14 kg of premium hydroponic cannabis valued at 14 crore hs been seized at Chennai airport.

And, just as the exotic pet menace, Thailand has become the source of Chennai-bound consignment of hydroponic cannabis.

On Monday, 3.6kg of hydroponic ganja was seized from a passenger coming from Thailand. Based on a specific tip-off about the drug being brought from the Thailand capital of Bangkok, DRI officials maintained a vigil at the airport, along with customs officials.

A passenger, 30, from Chennai attracted the sleuths' notice as his travel documents showed that he was visiting Thailand on a tourist visa for just two days. His responses during inquiry were evasive.

A search by officials revealed that he was carrying 3.6 kg of high-grade cannabis hidden in a compartment of his suitcase.

Investigations revealed that he was a courier for an international drug syndicate. Officials are now pursuing leads to locate and arrest the syndicate's key operatives in Chennai.

Officials have noted a pattern in the smuggling of hydroponic cannabis through Chennai airport. On Nov 21, authorities arrested a Chennai woman for smuggling hydroponic cannabis valued at 2.8 crore. On Dec 16, officials seized 7.6 kg of premium cannabis worth 7.6 crore and arrested a man. The current seizure marks the third such incident. Officials, however, have not been revealing the identity of the people arrested.


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