In a major anti-narcotics operation, officers of the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, New Delhi, intercepted and seized 3.317 kilograms of cocaine, estimated to be worth ₹46.44 crore in the international market.
The seizure took place during the night shift of April 9–10, 2025, and was the result of specific intelligence inputs received by the Customs authorities. The cocaine was recovered from an Indian national male passenger, aged 23, who had arrived in New Delhi on Flight No. G9-463 from Entebbe via Sharjah.
According to officials, the passenger was intercepted after passing through the Green Channel. A suspicious image during X-ray screening of his baggage led to a detailed examination in the Preventive Room, carried out in the presence of two independent witnesses (panchas).
Upon a meticulous inspection of the baggage, six (06) concealed packets of white powder were discovered hidden within the periphery lining of the suitcase. Preliminary tests using the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Field Test Kit confirmed the substance to be cocaine.
The total gross weight of the recovered material, including packaging, was 3,616 grams, with a net weight of 3.317 kg. At an estimated street value of ₹14 crore per kilogram, the total worth of the contraband is pegged at approximately ₹46.44 crore.
The passenger was immediately detained, and legal proceedings under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and the Customs Act, 1962, are currently underway.
This successful interdiction highlights the unwavering vigilance and proactive operations of the Customs Department at IGI Airport in preventing the smuggling of narcotics into the country.
Read More: CBIC Issues Sampark 2025: Know Official’s Contact Details
