BHUBANESWAR: In a major drug bust, the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate on Tuesday seized around 50 kg hydroponic weed worth over Rs 30 crore from the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) and detained three persons from Uttar Pradesh in this connection.
Sources said the contraband, a highly-potent variety of ganja, grown using hydroponic method, was recovered from six bags which arrived on a flight from Bangkok. Suspicious about the luggage, the Customs officials checked the bags and found the high-grade cannabis within. Three passengers who carried the bags were detained. They are said to belong to UP.
The quantity of the seized contraband is said to be about 50 kg and the consignment could be worth around Rs 30 crore, making it one of the highest drug seizure at the Bhubaneswar airport.
Sources said the accused are now being interrogated to uncover the source of the narcotics and the intended destination. Officials are also trying to ascertain if Bhubaneswar was being used as one of the transit points for smuggling of the banned drug in a broader network.
A Kerala native had also been arrested by the custom officials from BPIA after recovery of contraband worth around Rs 7 crore, from him in January this year.