With hybrid ganja smuggling cases witnessing a sharp rise in Kerala, the Customs Department has decided to induct sniffer dogs to strengthen baggage checks at airports.
The move comes in the wake of significant seizures of both narcotics and gold in 2025, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced surveillance.
Currently, Kochi airport is equipped with two trained canines. However, given the increasing volume of smuggling attempts, the Customs Department has sought the assistance of the Customs K9 Establishment under the Directorate of Logistics to provide eight additional dogs.
“We have forwarded the request and expect deployment of the dog squad within the next two months. Plans are underway to assign two dogs with handlers each at Thiruvananthapuram, Kannur, Kozhikode, and Kochi airports,” a senior customs official said. He added that the department is considering breeds such as Labradors, German Shepherds, and Cocker Spaniels for the task.
Rising Hybrid Ganja Seizures
Data from 2025 shows a concerning surge in hybrid ganja trafficking. Between February and July alone, customs officials intercepted 129.68 kg of ganja across 12 cases, valued at over ₹8,411.89 lakh. The largest single seizure occurred in May, when 33.56 kg worth ₹3,400 lakh was confiscated. July also witnessed a massive recovery of 23.43 kg valued at ₹2,343 lakh.
Hybrid Ganja Seizures in 2025
| Month | No. of Cases | Quantity (kg) | Value (₹ in lakhs) |
| Jan | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb | 2 | 17.02 | 581.00 |
| March | 4 | 16.44 | 493.14 |
| April | 3 | 29.17 | 594.75 |
| May | 1 | 33.56 | 3,400.00 |
| June | 1 | 10.06 | 1,000.00 |
| July | 1 | 23.43 | 2,343.00 |
| Total | 12 | 129.68 | 8,411.89 |
Gold Smuggling Remains Rampant
Alongside narcotics, gold smuggling continues to trouble enforcement agencies. From January to July 2025, customs officials recorded 87 cases, recovering 40,618.48 kg of gold valued at approximately ₹3,299.51 lakh.
- January saw the highest seizures, with 14,922.12 kg valued at ₹1,121.75 lakh.
- February and March also witnessed major recoveries exceeding 7,000 kg and 8,700 kg respectively.
Gold Seizures in 2025
| Month | No. of Cases | Quantity (kg) | Value (₹ in lakhs) |
| Jan | 26 | 14,922.12 | 1,121.75 |
| Feb | 23 | 7,652.41 | 594.82 |
| March | 15 | 8,706.83 | 733.47 |
| April | 4 | 1,949.96 | 183.11 |
| May | 9 | 4,507.27 | 401.49 |
| June | 4 | 276.32 | 25.62 |
| July | 6 | 2,603.57 | 239.25 |
| Total | 87 | 40,618.48 | 3,299.51 |
Strengthening Surveillance Measures
Officials emphasize that the deployment of sniffer dogs will significantly improve detection efficiency, especially in passenger baggage screening, where concealed contraband often goes unnoticed by traditional checks.
The combined pressure of rising narcotics and gold smuggling is expected to make the Customs Department intensify coordination with law enforcement agencies and adopt advanced detection technologies alongside canine squads.
Authorities believe the introduction of sniffer dogs will serve as both a deterrent and an operational boost in tackling smuggling networks targeting Kerala’s airports.
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