For the second day running, Biju Patnaik International Airport has intercepted a major drug shipment. Customs officials seized 3.99 kg of premium hydroponic marijuana, valued at approximately ₹4 crore, from a passenger arriving from Bangkok.
Acting on a tip-off, the Intelligence and Customs departments discovered the contraband concealed within a "secret chamber" of a luggage bag. The smuggler had hidden the drugs inside chocolate packets to bypass metallic scanners. This follows a near-identical seizure yesterday, where another ₹4 crore worth of Thai-origin marijuana was intercepted.
Authorities are now investigating a potential international smuggling ring using Thailand-Bhubaneswar air routes. Security has been significantly beefed up at the terminal as officials probe whether these consecutive shipments are linked to a larger narcotics syndicate operating in the state.