25kg marijuana worth Rs 30cr seized from 3 flyers at city airport
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DRI officers said it was the largest ever haul of contraband in India being transported via air. The three passengers, who were in possession of around 70 packets of marijuana packed as food items to hoodwink enforcement agencies, were identified as carriers. Their identities have not been disclosed.
DRI officers said the high-quality marijuana was grown using the hydroponic method. DRI and customs officers are interrogating the passengers, who, before boarding the flight in Bangkok, somehow managed to escape mechanical scanners and security personnel.
"So far, we know that they are carriers and to get easy money (maybe around Rs 50,000 per consignment), they carried the contraband. Their interrogation will reveal the main trader in Bangkok and to which locations they were going to supply the contraband.
The large consignment was not meant only for Odisha," said a senior DRI officer on the condition of anonymity.
DRI officers said moments after the flight took off from Bangkok, they received a tip that the huge marijuana consignment was coming to BPIA.
"We positioned our staff and took the help of customs as well. The scanners provided hazy images, but physical checks revealed the contraband. Each packet was unwrapped and weighed," the officer added.
DRI officers also said that in the recent past, marijuana smuggling detected in airports and other places had their origin in Bangkok. "In this case, we will ascertain whether marijuana cultivation is done in Bangkok and whether the contraband is supplied across India using carriers through a network, whose tentacles spread across cities. The help of local authorities also may be taken to find out who carries out such contraband deals," an officer said.
DRI officers said it is too early to comment on the possible consumers in Odisha.
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