The Mapusa Additional Sessions Court has denied bail to Fahad Mohd Sajid Ansari, a Mumbai resident arrested in connection with the seizure of 23.832 kg of hydroponic cannabis at Mopa International Airport in March.
The court dismissed his bail application, observing that he appeared to be part of an organized international narcotics syndicate and was captured on CCTV in “conscious possession” of the illicit consignment.
According to the prosecution, on 25 March 2026 Air Intelligence Unit–Customs officers intercepted passengers arriving from Bangkok via Muscat. Two passengers, Tanmay Ramesh Jadhav and Madhuri Vijay Naidu, were found to be missing their registered check‑in baggage after clearing the green channel, having claimed that others had taken their bags.
Acting on this information, officers moved to Arrival Gate No. 3, where they intercepted Ansari along with co‑accused Aameer Sayeedullah Khan. Ansari was found with a black check‑in bag bearing Jadhav’s tag. Authorities recovered 24 sealed packets containing a total of 23.832 kg of high‑grade hydroponic cannabis from the syndicate’s luggage. Subsequent testing by the New Custom House Laboratory in Mumbai confirmed the substance as cannabis.
Ansari sought bail, citing parity with co‑accused Aameer Khan, who had earlier been granted bail by the Bombay High Court at Goa. Ansari’s counsel argued that the bag did not bear his name and that no contraband was found on his person.
The court, however, distinguished Ansari’s role from Khan’s on the basis of airport CCTV footage. The surveillance showed Ansari actively receiving the bag from a female associate near the pick‑up point and using his mobile phone to confirm identification during the handover. The court held that, unlike Khan—who was seen merely standing nearby—Ansari’s physical acceptance of the bag established active, conscious possession.
The court further concluded that releasing Ansari at this stage would prejudice ongoing investigations aimed at tracing absconding syndicate members and international suppliers. Ansari remains in judicial custody.
