19-Year-Old Ulhasnagar Student Held at Mumbai Airport with 960g Hydroponic Weed
Customs officials at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (CSMI) Airport in Mumbai on Sunday arrested a 19-year-old student from Ulhasnagar after seizing 960 grams of hydroponic marijuana hidden in his backpack. The passenger had arrived at the airport on a flight from Bangkok.
According to Customs sources, officers attached to the Air Intelligence Unit intercepted the passenger, identified as B.S. Nathani, on the basis of spot profiling that suggested he might be carrying contraband items upon his arrival.
Following the interception, officials conducted a search of Nathani's backpack, which was found to be packed with clothes and a single food packet. On cutting open the food packet, officers discovered two plastic packets stashed inside.
Upon cutting open the two inner packets, customs personnel found them stuffed with hydroponic marijuana weighing a total of 960 grams. Nathani was immediately placed under arrest, and the contraband was seized.
Authorities indicated that an investigation is currently underway to identify and apprehend other suspects involved in the smuggling operation. Officials are looking into the network responsible for sourcing the narcotics from Bangkok and receiving them in India.
"The preliminary investigation discloses the involvement of other persons who are yet to be traced. As the investigations in the case are at a preliminary stage, efforts are also being made to identify and apprehend key associates of the accused," a Customs officer said.
The accused claimed he was befriended by a woman in Bangkok who sought his help in delivering her package to a relative in Mumbai, asserting that he was entirely unaware of the parcel's contents.
Nathani's defence counsel, Advocate Sunil Pandey, stated that his client was falsely implicated and had become a victim of circumstances. "The applicant is a student and was influenced by a woman in Bangkok and was induced to carry the package with him to deliver it to someone known to her in India. My client had no knowledge about the content of the package. He was granted bail by the court," Advocate Pandey said.
