In their heavy drug trafficking crackdown Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) of Bengaluru, Customs department is busting up huge cargo of ganja (marijuana) valued in the cash register of ₹8 crore. The raid resulted in two passengers carrying out the smuggling getting arrested in short order. The bust, which was carried out in the early hours of February 9, 2026, epitomizes the efforts made by law enforcement in halting the flow of drugs illegally into the country through the country’s key gateway.
Modus Operandi Under Investigation
The ganja was carefully hidden in luggage belonging to the arrested prisoners', according to official reports of the preliminary report of Customs officials, which is a case of an accused person that Customs officials indicated was "precisely hidden in them", the ganja was meticulously hidden in a luggage case belonging to the people being arrested.
How precisely one may conceal such material and the origin and destination intended for the consignment is a matter that investigators are now working to narrow down in detail at this early stages of investigation. Officials suspect the seized drugs were part of a larger scheme of organized trafficking that has been working its way into the Bengaluru market, or may have been meant for onward distribution in future.
🚨 Major NDPS Seizure at Airport | 09.02.2026
— Bengaluru Customs (@blrcustoms) February 9, 2026
Bengaluru Customs intercepted two passengers arriving from Bangkok and seized 23.76 kg of hydroponic ganja, valued at ₹8.31 crore, concealed in checked-in baggage
Both accused were arrested under the NDPS Act, 1985.#CBIC
"Our teams have responded on specific intelligence feeds and they were able to intercept the consignment," one senior of Customs who is trying to keep his name confidential because he is still carrying out the investigations has said. "The overwhelming level of inventory that comes to our attention and the estimated value of the ganja suggest a highly effective coordinated operation by these criminals."
Arrests and Further Probes
The two passengers, who have not been named yet, were arrested shortly after the discovery of the contraband. They’ve been booked pursuant to the provisions of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Authorities are now working on extensive interrogations to unveil additional information, including:
- The other names of other people involved in the drug syndicate.
- The exact source of the ganja.
- The proposed distribution system either inside India or outside of it.
The newest finding comes on top of a number of other successful seizures from Bengaluru Customs, serving to underscore the airport’s watchfulness for smuggling attempts, of precious metals, currency and drugs. The inquiry is ongoing, and additional intelligence on a more detailed, and multi-agency effort to unravel the trafficking network behind this high-value shipment is in the pipeline by Customs officials.
