Latest news with #AirIntelligenceUnit
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
25-kg weed, diamonds worth ₹1.6 crore seized from smugglers at CSMI Airport
Mumbai: The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) on Wednesday seized 24.96 kilograms of hydroponic weed and arrested three persons from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The substance was allegedly being smuggled into India from Thailand. In a separate case, the AIU seized Saudi Riyals and diamonds totalling ₹1.71 crore from a passenger departing to Dubai and arrested him. The four arrested are in judicial custody. The AIU, acting on a tip-off, intercepted a couple arriving from Bangkok and seized 24.96 kilograms of hydroponic weed worth ₹24.66 crore from their luggage. The couple revealed the identity of a dealer who was waiting outside the airport to collect the consignment. Subsequently, the dealer was arrested. During interrogation, he revealed that he was a resident of Bhayender and that he was merely working on instructions. The three accused, booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, are remanded in judicial custody. The accused are allegedly a part of an international drug trafficking syndicate. The police said they are investigating the case. In the second case, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) intercepted a passenger departing for Dubai on Tuesday and seized 50,000 Saudi Riyals, equivalent to ₹11.14 lakh, 406.90 grams of lab-grown diamonds worth ₹47.22 lakh, and 245.3 grams of natural diamonds worth ₹1.24 crore. The seized material is worth a total of ₹1.71 crore. Subsequently, the passenger was arrested.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Customs officials arrest Gujarat couple and Bhayander woman with drugs worth Rs 25 crore at Mumbai airport
Mumbai: Customs officials at the city airport on Tuesday arrested a Gujarat couple and a Bhayander-based woman for allegedly smuggling 25kg of hydroponic weed or marijuana worth Rs 25 crore from Hong Kong. On specific intelligence, officials of the Air Intelligence Unit intercepted Surat residents Mohammed and his wife Tabassum Shaikh on their arrival from Hong Kong. Physical examination of their baggage resulted in the recovery of 13 vacuum plastic packets containing a lumpy green substance. The officials used a field testing kit to conduct an on-the-spot test and the results were positive for marijuana. The Shaikhs were arrested. During interrogation, they admitted that the packets were to be handed over to Alfiyah Rampurawala who was waiting at the exit gate of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. AIU officials apprehended Rampurawala, who revealed that she was to hand over the drugs to Abu Bakar and Nasir Bhai. The duo had provided her Shaikhs photographs and mobile numbers. All three arrested accused were booked under the NDPS Act. Officials are now looking for Bakar and Nasir.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Time of India
Chennai customs busted drug smuggling route, Sri Lanka as transit point for high-potency ganja; 2 held
CHENNAI: Customs sleuths at Chennai airport have uncovered a new modus operandi used by drug smugglers, using Sri Lanka as a transit point to bring high-potency ganja into India from Thailand. Two couriers have been arrested in recent weeks as part of the ongoing crackdown. In the latest case, a male passenger who flew in from Bangkok via Colombo was intercepted by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) on Tuesday. Upon checking his baggage, officials found six transparent food packets emitting a strong odour. These packets contained green flowering and fruiting tops of marijuana weighing 2.8 kg. Field drug tests confirmed the contents as marijuana. The substance was seized under the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. During questioning, the passenger admitted he was promised Rs 1.2 lakh to deliver the contraband in Bengaluru, planning to travel there by road. He has been remanded in judicial custody. Customs officials linked the incident to an earlier seizure on 16 May, in which six kilograms of hydroponic ganja were smuggled from Thailand via Colombo. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No Distractions. Just Solitaire Play Solitaire Download Undo The contraband had been packed inside 13 sealed snack packets labelled as 'Ritz toasted chips' and 'multigrain tortilla chips'. Authorities believe smugglers are using Sri Lanka to bypass strict checks usually applied to flyers arriving directly from Bangkok at Chennai airport. In 2024 so far, around 45 kg of hydroponic ganja smuggled from Thailand has been seized at the airport. Investigations indicate that the final delivery point in both recent cases was Bengaluru, not Chennai. Officials are examining whether the same network is involved in both operations. In a separate case, the Chennai Customs Postal Appraising Department (PAD) intercepted a parcel earlier this month. After suspicious results from X-ray scanning, 1.022 kg of hydroponic ganja was found hidden in two packets. This consignment was also seized under the NDPS Act, and investigations are ongoing to identify the recipient. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
The Hindu
07-06-2025
- The Hindu
Ganja seized from woman passenger at Coimbatore airport
Officers of the Air Intelligence Unit and Baggage Officers of Air Customs Unit seized 3.15 kg of ganja (hydroponic weed) from a woman passenger on June 6 at the Coimbatore International Airport. Sources said the passenger, who is aged 22-23 years and is from Idukki in Kerala, was carrying ganja worth more than ₹3 crore in her checked-in baggage. She arrived at the Coimbatore airport from Bangkok via Singapore by flight TR 540 (Scoot flight). Investigation is in progress under the NDPS ACT, 1986, read with the Customs Act, 1962. The operation was carried out by the Air Customs Office at the airport under the leadership of the Deputy Commissioner of Customs, Coimbatore Airport, the sources said on Saturday (June 7, 2025).
Hindustan Times
03-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Foreign national held at Mumbai airport with cocaine worth ₹52 crore
A foreign national was arrested after 5.194 kgs of cocaine worth ₹51.94 crore was recovered from him at the Mumbai international airport, Customs officials said on Tuesday. Based on specific information, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the Mumbai Customs intercepted a passenger, an overseas resident, at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) on Monday, an official said. During his personal search, four packets containing 5,194 grams (5.194 kgs) of cocaine were found ingeniously concealed in an ortho waist belt and calf guards, he said. After interrogation, the foreign national was placed under arrest by the Customs under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act), the official said, adding further investigation was underway in the matter.
