Malaysian National Arrested at Chennai Airport with 4kg Hydroponic Ganja

Customs officials at Chennai International Airport arrested a Malaysian national on Friday night after seizing 4.033 kilograms of suspected high-grade hydroponic ganja concealed in his checked-in baggage. The passenger was intercepted by officers belonging to the Air Intelligence Unit of Chennai Customs shortly after his arrival on a flight from Bangkok.

The operation was initiated based on passenger profiling conducted by the Air Intelligence Unit. According to Customs officials, the Malaysian passenger allegedly attempted to exit the airport premises through the Green Channel without making any formal declaration regarding his baggage or contents to the Customs authorities on duty.

The passenger's checked-in luggage was routed for X-ray screening, during which officers observed suspicious images on the scanner monitors. Based on these findings during the initial X-ray check, the officials pulled the luggage aside and subjected it to a thorough and detailed physical examination.

During the detailed search of the baggage, officials unearthed four separate packets containing a greenish, lumpy substance. The officers noted that the substance emitted a distinct, sharp, and pungent odour. The four packets containing the suspected high-grade hydroponic cannabis had been deliberately concealed inside false bottoms constructed within the checked-in luggage.

A total net weight of 4,033 grams of the substance was recovered from the false bottoms of the baggage. Customs officials then utilized a standard narcotic drug detection kit to analyze the seized material. The test returned a positive result, confirming the presence of ganja and marijuana.

Following the confirmation of the illegal substance, officials seized the entire quantity of contraband under Section 43(a) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The Malaysian national was placed under arrest by Chennai Customs and subsequently produced before a court, which remanded him in judicial custody.