Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, May 9: Customs officials at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport have arrested two passengers arriving from Bangkok after recovering nearly 35 kilograms of suspected hydroponic marijuana concealed in their baggage, officials said.
The passengers, who travelled on Thai Airways flight TG-323, were intercepted by Customs officers after they crossed the Green Channel. Officials said the action followed Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) profiling, which flagged the travellers for closer scrutiny.
During baggage screening, suspicious images were detected in the X-ray scan, prompting a detailed inspection. Customs officers later recovered 31 vacuum-sealed packets containing a substance suspected to be hydroponic cannabis, commonly known as marijuana or ganja.
According to officials, the total weight of the seized contraband, including packaging material, was 34.935 kilograms. The estimated value of the narcotics in the illegal market is around Rs 34.93 crore.
In a statement, Delhi Customs said the seizure was made under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Authorities stated that the accused were found in violation of Section 8 of the Act and are punishable under Sections 20, 23 and 29 related to possession, trafficking and conspiracy involving narcotic substances.
Both passengers have been taken into custody, and officials are now probing possible links to a larger international drug trafficking network. Investigators are also examining the origin of the consignment and identifying the intended recipients in India.
Customs authorities said further investigation into the case is ongoing.