In a major crack down on international drug trafficking, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Goa Customs busted a high-value narcotics smug gling attempt at Manohar International Airport, seiz ing 23.832 kilograms of hydroponic weed worth an estimated Rs 8.34 crore and arresting five passengers. The operation, carried out on March 25, was triggered by specific in telligence inputs and tar geted passenger profiling, officials said. The accused had arrived on different international routes — two from Bangkok via Muscat and another from Abu Dha bi via Muscat — raising red flags for customs author ities monitoring inbound traffic. Acting swiftly, AIU of ficers intercepted the sus pects immediately upon arrival and subjected their baggage to an inten sive search. What initially appeared to be routine luggage soon revealed a carefully orchestrated con cealment strategy — the contraband had been hid den inside food packets in checked-in bags, in an apparent attempt to evade detection. Officials said the recov ered substance was sub jected to on-the-spot test ing using an NDPS field kit, which confirmed it to be hydroponic cannabis, a high-potency variant of marijuana with signifi cant demand in the illicit market. All five accused were taken into custody and booked under the stringent provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The entire consignment has been seized.
Preliminary findings suggest the possibility of a larger, organised smuggling network operating across interna tional routes. Investigators are now working to trace the supply chain and identify other links in the operation. Reiterating their zero-tolerance stance, customs author ities said the bust underscores intensified surveillance and enforcement at Goa’s entry points, as part of sustained ef forts to curb drug trafficking and push forward the govern ment’s ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’ mission.
