The Customs officers at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, New Delhi, have busted a major drug smuggling attempt with the seizure of over 2 kilograms of cocaine valued at approximately Rs. 20.95 crore, leading to the arrest of two Indian passengers, officials said on Thursday.
According to an official press release issued by the Office of the Commissioner of Customs (Airport & General), the seizure was made on the basis of APIS (Advance Passenger Information System) profiling, a risk-assessment tool used by Customs to identify high-risk passengers.
The two passengers arrived at Terminal-3, IGI Airport on December 31, 2025, on separate flights from Bangkok to New Delhi—one by IndiGo flight 6E-1064 and the other by Air India flight AI-2335. Both passengers attempted to clear Customs through the Green Channel, which is meant for passengers not carrying any dutiable or prohibited goods.
Based on profiling inputs, Customs officers diverted the passengers for X-ray scanning and detailed examination of their personal baggage.
Upon examination, officers recovered black-coloured polythene packets concealed inside two black trolley bags. The packets were found to contain a white-coloured narcotic substance, which, on preliminary diagnostic testing, was found to be prima facie cocaine.
The total net weight of the seized substance was 2,095.5 grams.
In view of the recovery, Customs officials concluded that the passengers had violated Section 8 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The offence has been booked under Sections 20, 23, and 29 of the NDPS Act, which deal with illegal possession, import/export, and criminal conspiracy related to narcotic drugs.
Both passengers were placed under arrest on January 1, 2026, at around 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM, respectively, under Section 43(b) of the NDPS Act. The suspected cocaine, along with the concealment material and packaging, was seized under Section 43(a) of the Act.
Customs authorities have stated that further investigation is underway to ascertain the source of the contraband, possible international linkages, and the intended distribution network within India.
Officials said the seizure highlights the increasing use of international passenger routes from Southeast Asia for narcotics trafficking and underscores the role of data-driven passenger profiling in detecting sophisticated smuggling operations.
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