Woman arrested at Mumbai airport with hydroponic weed worth ₹11.82 crore

Mumbai Customs arrested a woman after allegedly recovering 11.824 kilograms of hydroponic weed worth ₹11.82 crore from her luggage at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The accused arrived in Mumbai from Bangkok and was intercepted during a routine inspection based on passenger profiling. Officials later registered a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and produced her before a court, which remanded her to judicial custody.

According to customs officials, the woman came under suspicion upon arrival and her baggage was subjected to a detailed examination. During the search, officers allegedly recovered 12 vacuum-sealed transparent plastic packets concealed inside a trolley bag. The packets contained a substance suspected to be hydroponic weed, a high-grade form of cannabis.

Authorities stated that a personal search of the passenger was conducted in accordance with legal procedures, but no contraband was found on her person. Officials said the recovered substance tested positive during preliminary examination using an NDPS field testing kit. The seized narcotics were estimated to have an illicit international market value of ₹11.82 crore.

The accused, who was employed as a relationship manager with a private company, reportedly claimed that she was unaware of the contents of the bag. According to her defence, she had travelled to Bangkok for tourism and professional opportunities and was allegedly persuaded by an acquaintance to carry the luggage to India. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the case.

Customs officials said the investigation is at a preliminary stage and efforts are underway to identify any other individuals linked to the alleged smuggling network. Authorities are continuing their inquiry into the source, ownership and intended destination of the seized contraband.