Pune Airport: Cannabis Extract Worth Rs 1 Crore Found Hidden in Cosmetic Jars

The passenger arrived at the Lohegaon airport aboard Air India Express flight IX-241 on the evening of October 1. She was intercepted by personnel from the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Pune Customs and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Pune Regional Unit, after officers flagged her baggage during profiling and screening.

A subsequent search, conducted under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, led officials to three cosmetic containers allegedly being used to conceal the substance.

Two of the containers were labelled “Rice & Yolk Hair Treatment”, while another was marked “Body Scrub”. Officials said they found a wax-like, semi-solid material with a strong odour inside the jars.

A preliminary examination using a Narcotic Drug Field Testing Kit indicated the substance was cannabis, following which the entire 1.243 kg consignment was seized under the NDPS Act.

The woman passenger has been arrested and further investigation is underway. Authorities are seeking to establish the source of the suspected narcotic substance and its intended destination.

In a separate case at Lucknow airport, authorities had earlier seized 1.677 kg of suspected hydroponic cannabis, estimated to be worth around Rs 2 crore, from a passenger arriving from Muscat.

The passenger, identified as Anvar Ali from Malihabad in Lucknow, had arrived on Oman Air flight WY-265. According to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), an analysis of Advance Passenger Information System data indicated that Ali had travelled from Bangkok to Oman before flying to Lucknow.

An FRRO officer reportedly stopped Ali for further questioning during immigration clearance after noticing his travel pattern. Ali initially told officials that he had travelled to Bangkok for business.

Following further questioning, officials suspected that he could be carrying prohibited substances and handed him over to the Customs AIU for examination. A subsequent search of his luggage led to the recovery of the suspected hydroponic cannabis.