Mumbai: The Mumbai Airport Customs officers in two separate cases have seized over 13 kg of smuggled drugs having illicit market value of approx Rs 13.83 crores. Two passengers have been arrested by the Customs for smuggling contraband.

According to the agency sources, on the basis of profiling, the Customs officers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) Mumbai, intercepted one passenger who had arrived from Bangkok on Monday.

“During the examination of the baggage, the Customs officers recovered 11.83 kg of suspected hydroponic weed (marijuana), with an illicit market value of approximately Rs 11.83 crores. The narcotic substance was cleverly concealed inside the checked-in trolley bag carried by the passenger,” said a Customs officer. The said passenger was then arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

In another case, on the basis of specific intelligence, the Customs officers at CSMIA Mumbai intercepted and arrested one passenger who had arrived from Bangkok on Sunday. During the examination of the baggage, the Customs officers recovered 2 kg of suspected hydroponic weed with an illicit market value of approximately Rs 2 crores. The narcotic substance was cleverly concealed inside the checked-in trolley bag carried by the passeng

Thane: A 76-year-old woman’s bag containing a gold chain, a gold ring, and cash worth Rs 58,000 was stolen in a rickshaw in Dombivli by a woman travelling with a small child. The incident took place last Friday, after the victim, Vijaya Bhosale, returned from Ganpati celebrations in Konkan and hired a direct rickshaw from Pandit Dindayal Chowk to her home in Thakurwadi, near Dombivli West railway station.

As the rickshaw began its journey, a 40-year-old woman with a child forcibly entered the vehicle, despite Bhosale stating she had hired it for a solo trip. During the ride, the woman attempted to touch the gold chain around Bhosale’s neck.

When questioned, the woman denied any wrongdoing. However, she had placed her bag close to the elderly woman and managed to steal the gold ornaments and Rs 4,500 in cash from Bhosale’s wallet without being noticed.

It was only after reaching home and attempting to use her phone that Bhosale discovered the valuables were missing. She then realised the theft likely occurred during the shared rickshaw ride. A complaint has been registered at Vishnunagar police station, and authorities suspect the woman who forced her way into the rickshaw is responsible, as reported.

Reports suggest that some women have been targeting passengers near Dombivli railway station, using similar tactics. Complicating the investigation, CCTV cameras in the area were not operational at the time of the incident, making it more difficult for police to track down the suspect, described as chubby and accompanied by a child.

Thane: The construction of a pavilion for the Navratri festival at Tembhinaka Chowk in Thane commenced today, causing significant traffic congestion. Although the Ghatsthapana is scheduled for September 22, the pavilion work will take approximately two weeks. The area, home to Thane Court, District Collector’s Office, and several schools and colleges, is expected to experience disruptions. Congestion is anticipated to peak during nighttime.

The Shri Jai Ambe Mata Public Navratri Festival, initiated by late Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe, continues to be celebrated at Tembhinaka, which has seen increased urbanisation over time, necessitating the erection of an elaborate pavilion for the event.

Citizens from Thane, Mumbai, suburbs and various districts come to Tembhinaka for this festival to have darshan of the goddess. Due to this, this area takes on the form of a fair. Since Ghatsthapana is on September 22 this year, the work of erecting a pavilion here has been undertaken by the board from today. Therefore, the road open for traffic from Tembhinaka Chowk towards Court Naka has been closed.

A few meters away from Tembhinaka are the Thane Court, Thane District Collector’s Office and other government offices. Therefore, citizens from various parts of Thane district come here for work. Schools and colleges are also a few meters away from this area. Therefore, school buses also ply from here.

This road is also important for passengers and drivers traveling towards Thane Railway Station. But now that Tembhinaka Chowk is closed, the possibility of traffic jams is being expressed at Charai, Court Naka, Anand Ashram Road. Although the festival lasts for 11 days, the time required to erect the pavilion and remove the pavilion after Dussehra means that citizens are likely to be stuck in a jam for at least a month.

When the traffic police was asked about this, they said that temporary traffic changes have been implemented here. They clarified that traffic at Tembhinaka Chowk has been diverted to an alternative route.