Mumbai Customs Seize Ganja and Gold in Major Airport Bust
On October 19, 2024, Mumbai Customs officials intercepted a passenger arriving from Bangkok at the airport. They discovered 8.909 kg of suspected ganja, hidden in boxes of toys and food items, with an estimated market value of Rs 8 crore. The passenger will face proceedings under the Customs Act, 1962, and the NDPS Act, 1985. Investigations are ongoing.
In a separate operation, between October 16 and 18, Mumbai Customs seized 2.427 kg of gold worth Rs 1.70 crore and electronic goods, including smartphones valued at Rs 42.14 lakh. These items were found concealed in baggage, dustbins, and even undergarments. The Air Intelligence Unit recovered gold dust embedded in wax and melted gold bars from passengers traveling from Kenya, Jeddah, Dubai, and Ra’s al-Khaimah. Further investigations are underway.
Doubts Revealed
Mumbai Customs -: Mumbai Customs is a government agency responsible for checking goods and people entering or leaving India through Mumbai. They make sure that no illegal items are brought into the country.
Ganja -: Ganja is another name for marijuana, a plant that some people use as a drug. It is illegal to bring it into India without permission.
Gold -: Gold is a shiny, yellow metal that is very valuable. People sometimes try to bring it into the country without paying taxes, which is illegal.
Bangkok -: Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand, a country in Asia. It is a popular place for people to travel to and from.
Contraband -: Contraband refers to goods that are illegal to trade, import, or export. In this case, it means the ganja and gold that were being smuggled.
Smartphones -: Smartphones are mobile phones that can do many things like a computer, such as accessing the internet, taking photos, and playing games. They are popular and valuable items.
Smuggled goods -: Smuggled goods are items that are brought into or out of a country secretly and illegally, often to avoid paying taxes or because they are banned.
