Customs officials at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport have arrested two passengers and seized 11.525 kg of hydroponic weed, also known as ganja, in a suspected drug smuggling operation involving separate travel routes from Bangkok and Kathmandu.
The seizure was made after the Air Intelligence Unit developed specific intelligence about a possible attempt to bring prohibited substances into the country. The operation led to the arrest of a woman from Punjab and a man from Gujarat who were arrested for trying to escape detection by travelling separately and handling each other's baggage at different stages.
The Punjab-based woman arrived at Delhi Airport from Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok on August 16. Customs officials said she crossed the green channel without carrying luggage. But officers stopped her for questioning based on intelligence and began investigating the circumstances surrounding her arrival.
Suspicious baggage traced by Customs
Then Customs officers found unclaimed baggage that was possibly linked to the woman. The luggage was further examined as officials suspected that it could contain prohibited material.
The investigation took a turn when the Gujarat-based man arrived from Kathmandu separately and took the baggage after passing through the green channel. Customs officers intercepted him and examined it through an X-ray.
The scan did reveal suspicious images inside the luggage. The officials then performed a detailed physical inspection, and they found 11.525 kg of hydroponic weed.
The recovery has led investigators to suspect that the accused deliberately divided their travel and baggage movements in an attempt to reduce the chances of detection at the airport.
What is hydroponic weed?
Hydroponic weed is cannabis grown using a water-based growing system instead of soil. In hydroponic cultivation, plants receive nutrients through a controlled water system, allowing growers to regulate several aspects of plant growth.
The term is often associated with cannabis grown in a controlled environment. But the exact potency and chemical content of cannabis are determined by the cultivation method, plant variety, and other factors.
Cases registered under NDPS Act
Both passengers admitted during questioning to taking part, the Customs Department said. They were caught and booked in line with the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act.
The NDPS Act regulates and prohibits the production, possession, transportation, sale and trafficking of several narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in India, subject to specific legal provisions and exceptions.
The officials are still investigating the origin of the seized substance, the intended destination, and whether other people or some organised network were linked to the smuggling operation.
Green channel under Customs scanner
It also shows how airport screening and passenger profiling are tools for identifying attempted transportation of prohibited substances.
The green channel at international airports is intended for passengers who do not have goods to declare to Customs. Passengers must comply with customs regulations and declare restricted, prohibited or dutiable goods when needed.
Customs authorities are increasingly relying on intelligence information, passenger profiling, baggage scanning and targeted interception to find suspected smuggling attempts at major international airports.
The seizure of more than 11 kg of hydroponic weed at Delhi airport is another significant recovery in the ongoing efforts by enforcement agencies to curb the trafficking of narcotic substances through international travel routes.
Additional investigation will be necessary to establish the complete sequence of events, including how the baggage reached Delhi, its intended recipient, and whether the two people arrested were part of a wider smuggling network.
