Two attempt to smuggle 5kgs of ganja worth 5 crore, arrested

Mumbai: The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Customs apprehended two passengers and their handler for attempting to smuggle 5 kgs of ganja, with an estimated value of Rs 5 crore, from Bangkok. The AIU, based on digital profiling, intercepted Yusuf Noor (46) and Sameer (51) upon their arrival at Mumbai airport from Bangkok on Saturday. A search of their luggage revealed 20 packets of a greenish substance, suspected to be ganja, weighing approximately 5 kgs. The contraband was concealed within breakfast cereal boxes in their checked baggage. Field tests confirmed the substance to be narcotic.During questioning, the passengers confessed to carrying the contraband and stated their intention to deliver the packets to an individual outside the airport. The officials set up a controlled trap and arrested Abdul Sabith, who had arrived to collect the narcotic substance. Another person, Mashood alias Machoo, was also expected to meet the passengers at the airport but did not appear. The arrested individuals disclosed that a woman named Ruby had provided them with the drug packets at the Bangkok airport, arranged their air tickets and hotel stay, and promised them Rs 15,000 upon successful delivery. Advocate Ishan Srivastav, representing the accused, argued before the court that his clients were falsely implicated in the case.