In a major anti-narcotics operation, Customs officials at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, New Delhi, have foiled an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of hydroponic weed into India, seizing 15.38 kilograms of the contraband concealed inside household geysers. The estimated illicit market value of the seized narcotics is approximately ₹5.38 crore.
According to Customs authorities, the operation was carried out by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) on June 7, 2026, based on specific intelligence inputs and passenger profiling. Two passengers arriving from Kuala Lumpur aboard Flight D7-182 came under surveillance after their arrival at IGI Airport.
The passengers had crossed the Green Channel when Customs officers noticed that, apart from their regular checked-in baggage, they were carrying two brand-new geysers. The unusual nature of the baggage prompted officers to subject the passengers to detailed questioning and scrutiny.
During sustained interrogation and examination of communications found on the suspects’ mobile phones, officials developed strong suspicion regarding the contents of the electrical appliances. Acting on these inputs, the geysers were subjected to X-ray screening, which revealed anomalies indicating the possible presence of concealed material within the appliances.
Subsequently, Customs officers dismantled both geysers and uncovered an elaborate concealment mechanism designed to evade detection. Hidden within the internal cavities of the appliances, officials recovered 145 vacuum-sealed packets containing a green leafy substance suspected to be Hydroponic Weed (Ganja).
Upon weighing, the recovered narcotic substance was found to have a gross weight of 15.38 kilograms. Preliminary assessment placed the street value of the seized contraband at around ₹5.38 crore, underscoring the significant scale of the smuggling attempt.
Officials stated that hydroponic weed is a premium-grade cannabis variety cultivated under controlled conditions and is often trafficked through international smuggling networks due to its high market demand and value.
The entire consignment has been seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Both passengers have been arrested, and legal proceedings have been initiated against them.
Customs authorities said the case highlights the increasingly sophisticated methods being employed by international drug trafficking syndicates to smuggle narcotics into the country. The use of everyday household appliances such as geysers as concealment devices demonstrates the evolving tactics adopted by smugglers to bypass security checks.
Further investigation is underway to identify the source, intended recipients, and possible links of the accused with larger narcotics trafficking networks operating across international borders.
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