Mumbai: The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officials of Airport Customs on Tuesday arrested a Kerala based man for allegedly smuggling Hydroponic Weed worth Rs 2.96 crore which he smuggled from Bangkok. The arrested person has been identified as R.F. Karivettil (23), a resident of Kozhikode, Kerala.
According to the Customs sources, on Tuesday, AIU officers intercepted Karivettil, who had arrived from Bangkok, on the basis of specific intelligence that he might be carrying narcotics substance.
The Customs officials then checked his trolley bag and recovered plastic packets containing fruiting and flowering top of plant in it. On testing the seized material was found to be hydroponic weed.
Total 2964 grams of hydroponic weed valued at Rs 2.96 crore was seized from Karivettil. He admitted he was aware that smuggling of hydroponic weed and other illegal drugs into India attracts stringent punishment.
“He said that she was getting handsome amount of quick and easy money in lieu of smuggling the drugs into India. Preliminary probe discloses involvement of more people in the case who are yet to be traced,” said a Customs source.
