In a significant narcotics bust, customs officials at Surat International Airport intercepted a woman passenger arriving from Bangkok and seized cannabis valued at a staggering Rs 3.11 crore. This incident, which occurred on Wednesday, marks the second such case involving a female carrier within a single week, intensifying concerns among enforcement agencies.
Operation and Arrest Details
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the customs department stopped the passenger, identified as Varsha Raikwar, during routine checks. A meticulous search of her luggage revealed 3.11 kg of cannabis cleverly concealed inside seven vacuum-sealed transparent polythene packets.
Officials promptly called experts from the regional forensic science laboratory to the airport to test the seized substance, which was conclusively confirmed to be cannabis. Following the confirmation, Raikwar was arrested under the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for a thorough investigation. During initial questioning, she admitted to carrying the prohibited substance.
Modus Operandi and Broader Concerns
Investigators believe Raikwar was working as a courier for an international drug syndicate. They suspect she was lured with the promise of a foreign trip and monetary compensation to transport the contraband. The packets were packed to mimic regular travel items, but precise intelligence allowed officials to single her out for inspection.
This seizure is part of a worrying pattern that suggests Surat airport is emerging as a preferred transit point for international ganja smugglers. Authorities are now intensifying efforts to identify her contacts in Thailand who supplied the drugs and the intended recipients within India.
A Pattern of Recent Seizures
The arrest of Varsha Raikwar follows two other high-profile seizures in December, highlighting a persistent trend.
- On December 22: The city police's detection of crime branch arrested Rasiya Kapoor and Mohammad Iqbal Khan after they were caught carrying a massive 17.65 kg of ganja worth Rs 6.18 crore, also from Bangkok.
- On December 12: In a joint operation by the AIU and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Adilnavaj Shaikh was arrested upon arrival from Bangkok with 1.68 kg of ganja valued at approximately Rs 1.50 crore.
This series of incidents has put enforcement agencies on high alert, prompting a review and likely strengthening of surveillance and intelligence-gathering mechanisms at the airport to curb this dangerous smuggling route.
