6 Thai nationals held at Varanasi airport with 20 kg hydroponic weed

LUCKNOW: Immigration authorities at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport intercepted six Thai nationals after allegedly recovering around 20 kg of hydroponic weed from their baggage during the arrival clearance of Air India Express flight IX 215 from Bangkok on Saturday.According to sources, two Thai passengers were initially flagged during advance passenger information system analysis due to suspected involvement in the smuggling of contraband items. Following the alert, the two suspect Thai nationals were detained along with five other Thai nationals. All seven came in a group and were handed over to the Customs Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) for baggage examination.During scanning of their luggage, customs officials allegedly recovered hydroponic weed concealed in multiple bags. The total quantity seized was around 20 kg. Sources said contraband was recovered from six of the seven Thai nationals travelling together.The detained passengers have been identified as Wichanchai Phalakit, Natthaphong Chantarak, Pratchaya Yeekor, Prisana Chodmon, Pattamawan Chotimon and Sunisa Puetpakwan. The group comprised three men and three women.“During questioning, the passengers reportedly showed photographs of the Buddhist stupa at Sarnath, indicating that they may have been visiting the country for a religious trip. However, we feel that the pilgrimage was used as a cover for narcotics smuggling,” said an official source.The seizure comes barely a week after another major drug haul at the same airport. On May 23, an Indore couple posing as fiancés was arrested with 19.8 kg of hydroponic weed valued at approximately Rs 6.93 crore. In that case, immigration officials first detected suspicious travel patterns before the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) initiated legal proceedings against the accused.Officials suspect the latest case could point to a change in smuggling tactics. “There are chances that the smugglers have changed their modus operandi by using Thai passengers,” an official source said.Meanwhile, Customs AIU has not issued any official statement regarding the detention of the Thai nationals or the value of the seized contraband. Further investigation is underway to ascertain the source, destination and intended recipients of the narcotics.If booked under NDPS act, the Thai nationals could serve years as jail term before been deported to Thailand.