Mumbai Customs Busts International Drug Syndicate, Arrests 19-Year-Old With 16 Kg Hydroponic Cannabis

Mumbai Airport Customs officials have dismantled an international drug smuggling operation and arrested a 19-year-old man working as a courier for the network. Acting on intelligence, officials intercepted passenger Ajit Kathat, a resident of Ajmer, Rajasthan, upon his arrival from Bangkok at the airport.

Officers found 16 kilograms of hydroponic cannabis concealed in 16 plastic packets inside his trolley bag. Kathat admitted to knowingly carrying the narcotic substance for payment and was placed under arrest, subsequently remanded to judicial custody.

Customs authorities state the investigation is in preliminary stages. They are working to identify the source, intended recipients, financiers, and other associates involved in the smuggling operation. The DRI has noted that recent policy changes in Thailand permitting cannabis cultivation have increased accessibility for traffickers targeting India.