Man held with hybrid cannabis at airport

Kochi: In a major drug seizure at Kochi Airport, a Thrissur native was arrested with hybrid cannabis worth Rs 5.88 crore by Customs on Tuesday.According to Customs sources, a passenger named Richy Antony of Kottappuram, Thrissur, arrived at the airport with the contraband on Monday night.

He arrived on Flight FD 170 from Bangkok.

Interrogation and detailed examination resulted in recovery of 5.88kg of hybrid cannabis, or hydroponic weed, worth Rs 5.88 crore concealed inside the checked-in baggage of the passenger.He was arrested and remanded in judicial custody on Tuesday. Customs sources said a detailed investigation is on to figure out the ultimate destination of the contraband.The seizure by Customs comes even as state police intensified its crackdown against imported hybrid cannabis as part of Operation Toofan.On June 24, hybrid cannabis worth Rs 18 crore was seized by Ernakulam rural police. A man was caught smuggling 1.17kg of hybrid cannabis on a motorcycle during an inspection and subsequently, a search conducted at his flat in Kunnuvazhi led to the discovery of 16kg of hybrid cannabis.Police then found that the international drug syndicate used to smuggle hybrid cannabis into Kerala from Thailand.Following a detailed investigation centred on drug distribution networks within and outside India, police arrested accused Abu Tahir, 39, of Mundur, Palakkad. He used to send agents to Thailand, providing them with visas, tickets and financial rewards. Upon their return, the agents would bring hybrid cannabis, which the gang would collect outside the airport and subsequently sell.