Surat: The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Customs at Surat International Airport (SIA) seized 3.7kg of hydroponic ganja, valued at around Rs 3.75 crore, from a Bangkok–Surat flight on Monday. The contraband was found unclaimed on board, marking the second major seizure at the airport within three days.Officials said that after the aircraft landed, the AIU team conducted a detailed inspection of the cabin. During the search, suspicious pouches were found concealed near the safety jackets placed beneath three seats. On opening the pouches, officers recovered seven vacuum-packed plastic packets wrapped in brown adhesive tape.The seized material was sent for laboratory analysis, which confirmed it to be marijuana (hydroponic ganja). As the consignment was unclaimed, it was seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.In a related operation on Sunday, the AIU arrested four persons and seized hydroponic ganja worth around Rs 6 crore. The accused were identified as Pravin Karamvir, Vikram Bhaukal, Balvir Singh and Pradip Suraj Bhan, all residents of Haryana, and Anshul Gupta from Uttar Pradesh.Customs officials said the contraband in that case was also found unclaimed on a flight that arrived on Saturday, near the seats occupied by the accused.In both seizures, the packets were packed in a similar manner. Officials noted that the vacuum-packed consignments occupied less space and were concealed to allow easy handling. Since the accused allegedly left the packets on board, investigators are probing whether another person was meant to collect the consignment from the aircraft and smuggle it out of the airport.Further investigation is under way to identify the source and network involved in the international drug smuggling racket.
