Mumbai Crime: California weed syndicate busted at international cargo airport

Customs officers with the seized marijuana

A major drug syndicate which was supplying large quantities of marijuana from California to India by concealing the contraband in various household items has been busted by the Airport Special Cargo Commissionerate at the International Courier Terminal. In the past week, customs officers have in several such interceptions seized North American marijuana worth Rs 14 crore. A total of three accused, including the mastermind, have been arrested in connection with the case so far.

Airport Special Cargo International Commissionerate in a statement said, "On the basis of an intelligence input that a courier package originating from America was carrying narcotics drugs, watch was kept by the officers of Airport Special Cargo Commissionerate at the international courier terminal. The package was intercepted and 910 grams of marijuana originating in California was found concealed in an Air Purifier."

The contraband was found hidden inside furniture and other household items

After this, the customs department intercepted three more parcels originating from North America with the help of data analytics and tip-offs. "Intensive search of the parcels led to recovery of high quality hydroponic marijuana weighing 27.478 kg hidden in various household items like outdoor waterfall, fake wood leather chair, and propane gas fire pit table. Such high quality marijuana of North American origin commands a high price in excess of R3,000 per gram in the local illicit markets," the statement added.

Dummy products

Customs officers then planned to deliver the dummy products to the customer in a bid to apprehend them. "Sustained surveillance of targeted addresses were carried out by undercover customs officers in the guise of auto drivers and delivery men so as to execute the operation in a meticulous and flawless manner," an officer said.

"During one of the deliveries, we found that the person who first received the parcel sent it to another address. Once the contraband was there, the residents of that address got another person, who turned out to be the mastermind, to come collect it," the officer added.

Following his arrest, the officers recovered another 20 kg of marijuana and 120 grams of hashish, valued at Rs 6 crore.

According to customs officers, since the use of marijuana has been legalised in California, the farmers have started cultivating it, which, in turn, led to a drop in prices. So, in a bid to get a better price for their produce, the same is being supplied to various parts of the world, including India, where the demand has seen a rise.

910g
Amount of marijuana seized in the first operation