Five held with hydroponic weed worth Rs 8 crore at Goa airport
Panaji, Mar 27 (PTI): The Goa Customs have arrested five passengers with 23.8 kg of hydroponic weed worth more than Rs 8 crore at the Manohar International Airport (MIA), officials said on Friday.
The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) intercepted passengers who arrived from Bangkok (Thailand) and Abu Dhabi via Muscat on Wednesday, Customs Commissioner Sunil B Deshmukh said.
He said that the AIU seized 23.8 kg of the contraband concealed inside food packets in the passengers' checked-in baggage.
The substance was found to be hydroponic weed after testing, and the passengers were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, the official said in a statement.
The seized contraband is worth more than Rs 8 crore in the black market, he said, adding that a probe is underway in the case.
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Case registered over website impersonating Mangaluru police for online gambling
Mangaluru (Karnataka) (PTI): A case was registered after a website impersonating the city police was used to cheat people through online gambling, officials said on Friday.
The case came to light when personnel from the Cyber, Economic, and Narcotics (CEN) police station noticed a suspicious website during routine monitoring, they added.
On verification, it was found that unidentified individuals had created a portal using the name and identity of the city police, raising concerns over potential misuse for fraudulent purposes, they further said.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the fake platform was being used to lure individuals, particularly those unfamiliar with cyber risks, into online betting and gaming schemes, a senior police officer said.
Victims were reportedly persuaded to deposit money with promises of attractive returns, after which the funds were siphoned off, he said.
Police suspect the accused used the department’s name to make the website appear legitimate and win users’ trust.
"The misuse of official identity appears to have played a key role in convincing victims to engage with the platform," officials said.
A case has been registered against unknown persons, and efforts are underway to trace those responsible for creating and operating the fraudulent website.
Technical analysis of the domain and transaction trails is also being conducted as part of the investigation, police said.
Authorities have cautioned the public to remain vigilant while accessing websites and to rely only on verified official platforms.
Citizens are also advised to avoid links or schemes promising quick financial gains, as such offers are often used as bait in cyber fraud cases.
