Mumbai: Drug smuggling racket busted at airport; woman returning from Bangkok arrested.
Maharashtra: The Customs Department has busted an international drugs smuggling gang at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (CSMIA) Airport. In this action, a 24-year-old female passenger has been arrested, who is accused of being associated with a drug smuggling network and was involved in transporting consignments of narcotics from Bangkok.
According to Customs Department sources, this action was taken after receiving concrete information. Based on the information, a female passenger named Ayesha, resident of Patiala, Punjab, was taken under surveillance after reaching Mumbai from Bangkok. Her belongings and movements were already being monitored as it was suspected that she had hidden drugs in her bag.
It was told that the female passenger was crossing the green channel as per the normal procedure in the arrival hall of the airport, when the customs officials stopped her. This action taken after crossing the green channel showed the vigilance of the security agencies and the seriousness of the investigation based on intelligence information.
After this, a thorough search of the woman’s belongings was conducted and preliminary investigation revealed the possibility of finding suspicious substances related to drugs. The authorities immediately took him into custody and began further detailed investigation.
According to the Customs Department, this gang is active internationally and is involved in smuggling drugs into India from foreign cities like Bangkok. Investigating agencies believe that this network works with the help of many people, in which passengers are used as couriers.
Officials said that the role of the arrested woman could be only one link and the entire network is likely to be exposed through her interrogation. At present, efforts are being made to find out from him who gave him this consignment, and to whom in India it was to be handed over.
After this incident, the security arrangements at the airport have been further tightened. The Customs Department has said that passengers arriving on international flights are being closely monitored to prevent any kind of drug smuggling.
The investigating agencies are now looking at this case by linking it to a big international drugs network and have started searching for other possible accused.
At present, further action is being taken as per the legal process by taking the accused woman into custody and the recovered substances are being investigated.
