Mumbai | Customs officials at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai seized hydroponic weed valued at over Rs 17.93 crore and gold worth Rs 25.64 lakh in three separate cases, officials said on Friday.

The seizures were made on Wednesday, an official said.

In the first case, Customs officials arrested a passenger who had arrived from Bangkok with 5.922 kg of hydroponic weed worth Rs 5.922 crore. The contraband was concealed in a trolley bag, he said.

In the second incident, two passengers who had travelled from Bangkok were intercepted. Customs officials collectively recovered 12.017 kg of suspected hydroponic weed valued at Rs 12.017 crore, he said.

The drug was hidden inside chocolate and chips packets, he said, adding that both passengers were arrested.

Hydroponic weed, a potent and expensive form of ganja, is cultivated using water-based, nutrient-rich solutions instead of traditional soil methods.

In another case, a passenger arriving from Dubai was apprehended with eight pieces of 24 KT gold bangles, weighing 225 grams, worth Rs 25.64 lakh.

Customs authorities said investigations are underway to trace the wider network linked to the seized narcotics and smuggling attempts.