Surat: Cannabis worth Rs 3.11 crore was seized from a woman passenger at Surat International Airport on Wednesday after she arrived from Bangkok, marking the second such case involving a woman carrier within a week. A series of recent seizures has raised concerns among enforcement agencies that the city airport was emerging as a preferred transit point for international ganja smugglers.Acting on specific intelligence, the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the customs department intercepted the passenger, identified as Varsha Raikwar, during routine checks. A thorough examination of her luggage led to the recovery of 3.11 kg of cannabis concealed inside seven vacuum-packed transparent polythene packets.Officials from the regional forensic science laboratory were called to the airport to test the seized substance, which was confirmed to be cannabis. Raikwar was subsequently arrested under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for further investigation. During questioning, she admitted to carrying the prohibited substance.Investigators believe Raikwar was acting as a courier and suspect that she was offered a foreign trip and monetary compensation for transporting the contraband. The packets had been packed to resemble regular travel items, but intelligence inputs led officials to single her out for inspection. Authorities are now working to identify her contacts in Thailand who supplied the ganja, as well as the intended recipients in India.The seizure follows two similar cases in Dec. On Dec 22, the city police’s detection of crime branch arrested Rasiya Kapoor and Mohammad Iqbal Khan after they were found carrying 17.65 kg of ganja worth Rs 6.18 crore from Bangkok. Earlier, on Dec 12, Adilnavaj Shaikh was arrested on arrival from Bangkok with 1.68 kg of ganja valued at around Rs 1.50 crore in a joint operation conducted by the AIU of customs and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).
