Chennai: After a short gap, customs sleuths at Chennai airport busted another attempt to smuggle 10.75kg of hydroponic weed by arresting two men on Wednesday.The two men, natives of Kerala and first-time flyers, were lured into smuggling with heavy payouts. They were offered free flight tickets and accommodation in Bangkok, and were even trained on what to say and how to keep their phones free of any trace of information, said customs sources. “They were provided with similar-looking trolley bags with the contraband hidden in them,” said an official. The duo flew to the city from Bangkok by Thai Airways in the early hours and were stopped by customs officials on suspicion, as they seemed tense while passing through the customs green channel upon arrival.While they gave evasive replies, their checked-in baggage was subjected to a search. The sachets of chocolates and snacks kept amidst clothes were confiscated as they emitted a peculiar odour. Preliminary testing using a narcotics field drug testing kit confirmed the substance to be hydroponic weed, a narcotic drug prohibited under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.In total, 10.75kg of hydroponic weed was seized from the duo, which was worth 10 crore in street value, according to officials. Customs officials said the smuggling cartels were checking if the airport were vigilant about smuggling prohibited goods.
