Bangladesh’s Department of Narcotics Control arrested Indian national Md. Zulfikar Molla, 33, at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with 11 kilograms and 800 grams of high-grade cannabis allegedly brought from Thailand. He was detained on Friday afternoon during customs checks at the Green Channel in the airport’s lower-level arrivals hall, according to Assistant Director Dr. Md. Abu Sayeed Mia.

A special team led by Inspector Shahriya Sharmin of the airport circle under the DNC’s Dhaka Metro North office took position at the Green Channel at 1:30 pm. Molla, who arrived from Bangkok on Thai Airways flight TG321, was held as a suspect. In the presence of witnesses and airport authorities, officers searched his travel trolley bag.

The search recovered 21 polythene packets containing the cannabis, concealed beneath clothing. Officers also recovered an Indian passport, a boarding card and an OPPO smartphone with a Jio India SIM card. Molla is a resident of Rajarhat police station in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. A case has been filed at Airport Police Station under relevant provisions of the Narcotics Control Act, 2018.