The Customs Department at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi has seized cannabis worth more than ₹24 crore in a major anti-narcotics operation involving passengers arriving from Bangkok. The coordinated action has intensified concerns about the possible involvement of a wider international drug trafficking network operating across Southeast Asia and India.
According to officials, the seizures were made in three separate cases after intelligence inputs prompted targeted checks of incoming passengers. The narcotics were reportedly concealed in sophisticated ways inside luggage, suggesting a well-organised smuggling method designed to bypass airport security checks.
18‑Kg Cannabis Haul from Uzbek National
In the first case, on May 4, a Uzbek national arriving from Bangkok was intercepted for inspection. During the search, officials recovered 12 polythene packets of cannabis hidden inside his trolley bag. The total weight of the seized narcotic substance was found to be over 18.003 kilograms, valued at approximately ₹18 crore.
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Indian Nationals Held as Part of Same Network
In the second case, on May 6, a passenger from India arriving on a flight from Bangkok was stopped at the green channel for inspection. Customs officials recovered 5.467 kilograms of cannabis from his baggage. This seizure raised suspicions that Indian nationals may also be involved in facilitating or transporting narcotics for the smuggling network.
In the third incident, on May 3, another Indian passenger was intercepted at Terminal 3. A smaller quantity of 977 grams of marijuana was recovered from his possession. While the quantity was relatively low, officials believe it could be part of a larger distribution chain linked to the same trafficking route.
Network‑Wide Probe and Strengthened Airport Security
In total, the combined seizures from all three cases amount to narcotics valued at around ₹24 crore. Officials believe these incidents are not isolated, but rather interconnected links in a broader international drug trafficking syndicate operating between Southeast Asia and India.
Customs officials confirmed that all three accused have been taken into custody and are being interrogated to trace the masterminds and dismantle the supply chain. Preliminary investigations suggest that individuals are being lured or exploited through different methods to act as carriers for smuggling operations.
Security agencies noted that the Bangkok route has long been identified as a sensitive corridor for narcotics trafficking. The latest seizures further reinforce concerns that traffickers are continuously adapting their methods and exploiting commercial air routes for illegal transportation of drugs.
Authorities have strengthened surveillance at the airport, increasing random checks, intelligence-based profiling, and passenger screening procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Experts believe that such high-value seizures indicate the growing sophistication of drug trafficking networks, which are increasingly using air travel routes and international transit points to move narcotics across borders.
Investigative agencies are now examining the possibility of transnational connections, including the involvement of multiple countries and organised syndicates behind the smuggling operations.
The Customs Department has stated that enforcement action will be intensified in the coming days, with a focus on dismantling supply chains and strengthening preventive measures to curb the use of airports as transit hubs for drug trafficking.
