Bhubaneswar, Dec 30: Customs officials on Tuesday seized marijuana worth an estimated Rs 4 crore at Biju Patnaik International Airport during routine security checks, officials said.

One person arriving on an international flight has been detained in connection with the seizure and is being questioned, a source said.

The contraband was recovered during the inspection of a passenger’s baggage. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, Customs officials intercepted the luggage and found a large quantity of marijuana concealed inside.

According to preliminary information, the detained passenger had arrived in Bhubaneswar on an IndiGo flight from Bangkok. Investigators are examining the individual’s travel history and possible links to a wider drug trafficking network. Officials said initial questioning suggested that the consignment was to be transported by road after arrival, though the destination is yet to be ascertained.

Customs authorities have not disclosed the identity of the detained person. Further investigation is underway to determine the source of the narcotics and whether others are involved.

The seizure comes amid heightened security arrangements in the Odisha capital ahead of New Year celebrations. Police and enforcement agencies have stepped up surveillance across the city, with officials reiterating a zero-tolerance approach towards narcotics and other violations during the festive period, particularly on New Year’s Eve.

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This seizure occurs against a backdrop of rising NDPS Act cases in Odisha. As per the latest available data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the state registered 1,891 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act in 2023. This marks an increase from 1,642 cases in 2022 and 1,179 cases in 2021.