Kamal Ghorui
LUCKNOW: A delivery executive working for a reputed brand in Mumbai was detained at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (CCSIA) in Lucknow after immigration officers recovered hydroponic weed worth around Rs 8.5 crore from his luggage, reports Arvind Chauhan .The accused was later handed over to the Customs Air Intelligence Unit. Mohd Imran Sorathiya, 48, arrived at CCSIA on an Oman Air flight. Officers said he was intercepted by a Bureau of Immigration officer during routine profiling for immigration clearance after his travel pattern raised suspicion. Officers said Sorathiya travelled from Bangkok to Muscat before reaching Lucknow, which did not match his travel profile. His passport records also showed that he had begun international travel only in the last six months.Sorathiya told officers he worked as an auto-rickshaw driver for around 12 years and began working as a delivery executive in Mumbai recently.Officers searched his luggage and recovered about 8.5kg of hydroponic weed.The narcotic substance was packed in blue carbon paper and black polythene. Officers said the careful packing prevented the contents from being clearly detected during baggage x-ray screening.
