Bhubaneswar: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has reportedly seized marijuana worth around Rs 3 crore at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar and detained three passengers on suspicion of smuggling the contraband.
According to preliminary information, the passengers arrived in Bhubaneswar from Bangkok on an IndiGo flight at around 5.30 am. The consignment was allegedly being transported in food packets, luggage bags and chocolate packets.
Investigators suspect that the contraband was intended to be transported to Kolkata by road from Bhubaneswar. The three passengers are being questioned to establish their alleged involvement in the smuggling operation and identify others linked to the network.
The latest seizure comes days after DRI and Customs officials seized hydroponic cannabis worth an estimated Rs 1.85 crore in the international market from four passengers arriving from Bangkok at the Bhubaneswar airport on October 17.
During the examination of the checked-in baggage of three passengers, officials detected suspicious packets concealed in specially designed hidden compartments. They recovered six packets containing 4.877 kg of a green-coloured substance after opening the compartments.
The baggage of the fourth passenger initially showed no suspicious concealment. However, during a personal search, officials noticed a tin container labelled as dog food. As the passenger could not provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the container, the officials became suspicious.
DRI officials subsequently sought the assistance of Rubel, a detector dog from the Indian Customs K-9 squad deployed at the airport. After being exposed to a suspected narcotics packet recovered from another passenger’s baggage, the dog examined the container and gave a positive indication.
Officials opened the tin and recovered another 0.414 kg of the green-coloured substance concealed inside it.
The seized substances were tested using a narcotic drug detection kit, which confirmed them to be cannabis, also known as marijuana. The total quantity seized from the four passengers was 5.291 kg.
Further investigation is underway to establish the source of the contraband, identify the intended recipients and determine whether the latest case is linked to a wider international drug-smuggling network.