New Delhi, Jun 22: Customs officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in the national capital have intercepted a major narcotics consignment, recovering hydroponic cannabis valued at approximately ₹4.83 crore from a passenger arriving from Bangkok, leading to his arrest under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
According to an official statement, the passenger landed at IGI Airport on Air India flight AI 2335 on June 21 and was stopped for further inspection after clearing the Green Channel based on profiling inputs.
Authorities said suspicious indications were first detected during X-ray screening of the passenger’s luggage. A subsequent detailed examination of the baggage led to the recovery of a significant quantity of contraband.
Officials confirmed that the seized substance weighed around 13.84 kilograms and was identified as hydroponic cannabis, a high-potency variant cultivated using nutrient rich water based systems instead of soil. The estimated illicit market value of the recovered narcotics was pegged at nearly ₹4.83 crore.
Following the recovery, the passenger was taken into custody under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985. The seized material, along with its packaging, was also confiscated by enforcement officials.
Hydroponic cannabis is considered a premium-grade form of marijuana in illegal drug markets due to its high potency and controlled cultivation methods, often making it a preferred product in international trafficking routes.
Investigators have initiated further inquiry to trace the origin of the consignment and identify its intended destination. Officials are also probing whether the arrested individual is linked to an organised drug trafficking network operating across international borders.
The case remains under active investigation as agencies continue efforts to dismantle potential smuggling channels connected to the seizure.