India Airports Seize ₹12 Crore Hydroponic Cannabis in Two Busts

Customs officials at Delhi’s IGI Airport and Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport have seized a combined over 16 kg of suspected hydroponic cannabis worth more than ₹12 crore in two separate intelligence-led operations, officials said.

At Delhi IGI Airport, customs recovered around 6.02 kg of hydroponic weed valued at ₹2.1 crore from an Indian passenger arriving from Bangkok on June 3. Acting on profiling inputs, Air Intelligence Unit officers intercepted the passenger after he cleared the Green Channel. X-ray screening of his baggage revealed suspicious images, leading to a detailed inspection. Officials recovered six vacuum-sealed packets containing the suspected narcotic. A case has been registered under the NDPS Act, 1985 , and further investigation is underway.

In a separate operation at Lucknow airport, customs arrested an Indian passenger arriving on an Oman Air flight from Bangkok via Muscat and seized 10.397 kg of suspected hydroponic marijuana worth about ₹10.39 crore . Acting on specific intelligence, officers intercepted him at the Green Channel and conducted X-ray screening of his trolley bag. The search led to the recovery of 13 polythene packets containing a green-coloured substance, which preliminary testing indicated to be ganja or hydroponic cannabis. The passenger has been arrested and booked under the NDPS Act.

Officials said both seizures point to the continued use of passenger baggage routes for narcotics smuggling, particularly via Bangkok-linked flights. The Lucknow seizure follows another recent bust at Varanasi airport, where six Thai nationals were arrested with nearly 19.7 kg of hydroponic cannabis worth over ₹19 crore, suggesting a wider trafficking network operating across multiple Indian airports.

Authorities said intensified profiling and intelligence-based checks are helping intercept such consignments, as investigations continue into possible international drug syndicates involved in the smuggling operations.