The Mumbai Customs Department has seized hydroponic hemp, foreign currency and gold worth more than Rs 21.8 crore in four days at the International Airport here. Officials gave this information on Saturday.
He said that on the basis of secret information, the Customs Department seized this at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) between 21 and 24 September.
An official said that a passenger from Colombo (Sri Lanka) was caught with 2.624 kg of hydroponic cannabis hidden in a trolley bag which costs around Rs 2.62 crore.
At the same time, a passenger from Bangkok (Thailand) was arrested with a Rs 18.4 kg restricted substance worth Rs 18.40 crore. Hydroponic cannabis is the hemp that is grown in nutrient solution water instead of soil, with hydroponic technology.
Customs officials also caught three passengers along with foreign currency being taken without knowing. The official said that a passenger going to Dubai was caught unannounced foreign currency of Rs 7.11 lakh, while another passenger in the same aircraft caught a foreign currency worth Rs 49.38 lakh.
He said that similarly a passenger going to Jakarta (Indonesia) was caught with foreign currency equivalent to Rs 19.17 lakh. He said that the officials recovered a packet full of 365 grams of gold powder from a toilet near the immigration counter. Its price is Rs 38.10 lakh, which was confiscated under the Customs Act.