Man held at Mumbai airport with marijuana worth ₹14.73 cr concealed in ‘diplomatic’ cargo

Mumbai Customs has arrested a traveller at the international airport here for allegedly trying to smuggle 15 kg of hydroponic weed with an estimated value of ₹14.73 crore, officials said.

The contraband was concealed in a packet labelled as “Diplomatic Pouch of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)”, officials said on Sunday (August 3, 2025).

The traveller had landed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport from Bangkok, an official said.

“During the examination of his baggage, Customs officers recovered 14.738 kg of suspected hydroponic weed (marijuana), with an illicit market value of approximately ₹14.738 crore,” he said, adding that the accused was trying to smuggle the contraband by falsely declaring the consignment as confidential diplomatic cargo linked to national security.

The contraband was concealed inside envelopes bearing purported Ministry of External Affairs markings and sealed with official MEA tape, he said, adding that the trolley bag also contained copies of various UNODC and fake “top secret mission” reports.

A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.