Customs, NCB Probe Cartels After 3 Women Caught with Hydroponic Weed at Chennai Airport

Customs sleuths are investigating smuggling cartels that employ women as mules to transport hydroponic ganja, following the arrest of at least three women at Chennai airport who were found carrying a total of 20kg of high-grade cannabis valued at Rs 20 crore.

The crackdown began on August 22 when customs officials, acting on actionable intelligence shared by the Narcotics Control Bureau, intercepted a woman passenger who had arrived at Chennai airport on a flight from Bangkok.

A detailed examination of the passenger's checked-in baggage resulted in the recovery of multiple packets containing greenish-brown flowering and fruiting tops of cannabis plants. The high-grade hydroponic weed had been concealed inside six Thai snack packets and weighed 14.4kg in gross weight, carrying an estimated street value of Rs 14 crore.

Following the seizure, customs handed the woman over to the NCB for further probe after investigators found indications that the intended receiver of the contraband was based in Maharashtra. NCB officials noted that the passenger had been communicating with several Europe- and US-based phone numbers via WhatsApp. She was remanded into custody for further questioning.

In a related development, the air intelligence unit of Chennai customs intercepted two more women on suspicion after they arrived from Bangkok on Monday, as authorities continue their probe into the broader trafficking syndicate.