The Customs officials at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI Airport) have seized 8.925 kilograms of suspected ganja/marijuana from four Indian passengers who arrived from Bangkok.
Interception Based on Profiling
The operation was carried out by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Customs on April 21, 2026. Acting on profiling inputs, officers intercepted the four passengers after they landed in New Delhi on Flight No. AI-2333. The passengers were stopped at the Green Channel, typically meant for travelers with nothing to declare.
Contraband Found in Trolley Bags
Upon suspicion, the baggage of the passengers was subjected to X-ray screening followed by a detailed physical examination. During the search, officials recovered nine polythene packets containing a green-colored substance suspected to be ganja/marijuana. The packets were concealed inside three separate trolley bags.
The total net weight of the recovered substance was found to be 8,925 grams. Authorities have estimated the value of the seized contraband to be approximately ₹8.925 crore in the illicit market.
Preliminary Tests Confirm Narcotics
Initial testing of the seized material confirmed it to be ganja/marijuana. Further forensic examination is expected to be conducted to establish the exact nature and composition of the substance.
Legal Action Under NDPS Act
Customs officials have registered a case under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The accused passengers are being charged under Sections 8 (prohibition of certain operations), 20 (offences related to cannabis), 23 (illegal import/export), and 29 (criminal conspiracy) of the Act.
All four passengers were formally arrested on April 22, 2026. The seized narcotics, along with the packing materials, have been taken into official custody.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities are continuing their investigation to ascertain the source and intended destination of the contraband, as well as to determine whether an international drug trafficking network is involved.
This seizure highlights the continued vigilance of Customs officials at one of India’s busiest international gateways in curbing the smuggling of narcotic substances.
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