Kochi, Sep 19 (PTI) Customs sleuths have arrested a man and seized hybrid ganja worth around Rs two crore in Kochi, officials said here on Friday.

The accused, identified as Zachariya Titus, a native of Vaduthala in Kochi, was intercepted on Thursday after he collected a parcel from a courier service office. The package had arrived from Thailand, they said.

Around two kg of hybrid ganja valued at around Rs two crore was recovered from the parcel, which was kept in Titus’s vehicle.

Customs suspects Titus to be an active drug peddler in Kochi. He was interrogated after his arrest, and further investigations are underway into his activities in the city.

A customs official said that in recent months, there has been a rise in the seizure of ganja sourced from Thailand in Kochi.

He will be produced before the court soon as part of the remand procedure, officials added. PTI TBA TBA ROH

Seizure of illicit narcotics leads to arrest and remand proceedings after parcel importation from abroad. Customs officers intercepted an incoming courier parcel and recovered a concealed consignment of hybrid ganja sourced from Thailand, prompting the arrest of the parcel recipient on suspicion of drug trafficking; the detainee is subject to questioning and will be produced before a judicial authority under the remand procedure while customs investigates import routes and local distribution links.