Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Oct 8: Customs officials at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport seized gold, narcotics, diamonds, luxury watches and other goods worth Rs 90.89 crore during a four-week enforcement drive, resulting in 40 arrests.
According to Mumbai Customs Zone III, the crackdown conducted between September 7 and October 4 led to 136 cases. The seizures included 18.04 kg of gold valued at Rs 21.72 crore and 115.68 kg of narcotics worth Rs 59.11 crore.
The narcotics haul included hydroponic cannabis and 7.031 kg of ketamine valued at Rs 21.09 crore. The ketamine valuation was included in the overall narcotics figure.
Customs officials also seized foreign currency worth Rs 2.52 crore, diamonds valued at Rs 1.50 crore and luxury watches worth Rs 1.60 crore.
Other items recovered included 71 iPhones, 1,44,400 cigarette sticks, refurbished laptops, perfumes and saffron, with the combined value of these goods estimated at Rs 4.44 crore.
The seizures were made during multiple inspections and enforcement operations at the airport and were linked to suspected customs violations and narcotics offences.
Mumbai Customs said 40 people were arrested in connection with the cases. The cases were registered under the Customs Act, 1962, and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
Authorities have not released details about the nationalities of those arrested or the international flight routes linked to the seizures.