In a dramatic incident at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, a woman posing as an officer of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle hydroponic marijuana valued at around ₹10 crore into India. The arrest was made by customs officials after her suspicious behavior caught their attention.
According to officials, the woman had flown in from Bangkok on November 8. Her demeanor and conduct raised suspicion soon after she disembarked the aircraft, prompting the authorities to keep her under discreet surveillance.
During a detailed examination of her luggage, officials discovered 20 vacuum-sealed packets containing high-grade marijuana, collectively weighing approximately 11 kilograms.
A customs officer involved in the operation stated, “While being monitored, she was seen entering a washroom where she switched from a black jacket to one displaying the national emblem and the words ‘National Investigation Agency’. She appeared to be attempting to pass through security portraying herself as an NIA officer.”
The woman was stopped shortly after she crossed the Green Channel. An X-ray scan of her baggage revealed the concealed contraband. When she presented an NIA identification card to validate her credentials, officials quickly determined it was fake.
“We immediately called in NIA officials to verify her claim. It was confirmed that she was impersonating an NIA officer. She has been detained, and further investigation is underway to trace her network and the source of the contraband,” the customs official added.
Authorities suspect that the seized marijuana was part of an international drug smuggling operation using courier passengers as carriers. The woman now faces serious charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and for impersonation of a government official.
