Officials from Customs at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) successfully intercepted an Indian national arriving from Bangkok on flight 6E-1054 who attempted to smuggle a significant quantity of hydroponic ganja into India. The passenger cleared the green channel but was pulled aside after X-ray scans revealed suspicious imagery in the baggage. During a thorough examination, authorities discovered ten packets hidden inside a false bottom of the suitcase, containing a green-coloured substance identified as hydroponically grown weed with a gross weight of 2,542 grams.
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Smuggling Method and Concealment Strategy
The drugs were meticulously hidden beneath the false cavity of the baggage, a sophisticated concealment technique that highlights the evolving methods used by traffickers. The passenger’s evasion of routine checks by taking the green channel underscores the need for heightened vigilance and sharper profiling methods by airport security. No official value estimate was announced at the time of confiscation, but previous seizures of this nature suggest the market value could run into tens of lakhs. The arrested individual has been handed over to the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) enforcement unit for further investigation.
Implications and Enforcement Response
This seizure is part of a broader trend of hydroponic ganja smuggling via major Indian airports, particularly from Southeast Asian transit hubs such as Bangkok. Customs officials say the incident reinforces the importance of enhanced scanning technology, targeted intelligence, and proactive interventions at ports of entry. For Delhi Airport, the case serves as both a win and a warning — successful interception but also evidence of how deeply smuggling networks are embedding advanced concealment tactics into traveller baggage.
Investigators are now tracing the supply chain, identifying whether the smuggled consignment was part of a larger network based out of Thailand or other transit points. Meanwhile, airport authorities are reviewing screening protocols, especially for passengers who attempt to pass through green channels. As digital surveillance and profiling tools evolve, law enforcement agencies emphasise that drug traffickers are increasingly adapting, requiring continuous upgrades in detection and response capability.
