Two women were arrested at Gaya International Airport in Bihar after customs officials found around 10 kg of marijuana in their luggage. They had come from Thailand and were said to be carrying the suspected narcotic substance in four separate bags.
The seizure was made during a security check by customs officials and CISF personnel. The incident has renewed fears of international drug trafficking along airport routes.
Suspicious Baggage Detected During Airport Screening
The two women arrived at Gaya International Airport on a Thai Airways flight from Thailand around 11:45 AM on Wednesday, media reports said.
They were screened as part of baggage check and security staff allegedly saw suspicious images on their luggage through the X-ray scanner. The women were stopped for questioning and their bags were examined more closely.
The inspection allegedly found “about 10 kg of marijuana in four bags”. The suspected narcotic was seized by the police.
Customs officials took the women into custody for questioning again before carrying out legal formalities.
Arrested Women Identified as Punjab Residents
The arrested women have reportedly been identified as Simranjit and Kulwinder from Punjab.
The women were questioned for several hours after the recovery. Customs officials arrested them later in connection with the alleged attempt to smuggle narcotic drugs into India.
The international market value of the seized marijuana is estimated at Rs 10 crore. This valuation has not been independently confirmed by an official statement.
The authorities are investigating how they travelled internationally and whether the prohibited substance was transported with them.
Possible Links to a Larger Smuggling Network
Investigators are also looking to see if other people were involved in the alleged smuggling scheme.
Airport sources quoted in media reports said a group of six people had gone to Thailand four days before the incident. Two women from the group returned to Gaya on Wednesday and the other four had not returned at the time of the reports.
Investigators are looking for connections between the group and the seized consignment. They are likely to look into where the marijuana came from, where it was going and who else might be involved.
But it’s not yet known whether more people were involved.
Customs Investigation Continues at Gaya Airport
The seizure demonstrates that customs authorities and airport security agencies have to deal with international narcotics trafficking challenges.
Gaya International Airport serves international flights to Bihar from Thailand etc. Since the airport is an international airport passenger screening and baggage inspection are particularly important.
Customs officials are still investigating the case. Details about the alleged smuggling network and where the seized substance was going to be delivered (if any) are awaited as well.
The arrests also show how customs officials and CISF personnel need to work together to detect suspicious baggage and prevent prohibited substances from entering the country.
The investigation will determine if the two women were operating independently or part of a larger international drug trafficking network.
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