In a significant drug seizure, customs officers at Cochin International Airport (CIAL) arrested two women arriving from Bangkok with 15kg of hybrid ganja, valued at approximately Rs 4.5 crore.
The suspects, identified as Manvi Chaudhari, a model from Jaipur, and Chhibbet Swanti, a makeup artist from Delhi, were taken into custody following a detailed baggage inspection by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the customs department.
Suspicious Behavior Leads to Seizure
The duo landed at Kochi airport on a Thai Airways flight on Tuesday night. Their suspicious behavior caught the attention of AIU officers, prompting a thorough baggage check. Upon inspection, authorities found the contraband concealed in three separate packets. The seized substance was confirmed to be a high-potency hybrid variety of ganja, known for its strong effects and high market demand.
Judicial Proceedings and Recent Drug Seizures
Following their arrest, the accused were presented before the Angamaly first-class magistrate and were remanded into judicial custody. This incident marks one of the largest drug busts at Cochin International Airport in recent history.
This seizure follows a string of similar drug smuggling attempts at the airport. On March 8, customs officials arrested two women carrying 1.5kg of ganja worth Rs 44 lakh. In February, another smuggler was caught with hybrid ganja worth Rs 1 crore. With the latest case, law enforcement has confiscated a total of 22.75kg of ganja in March alone, leading to 11 arrests.
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