Customs officials at Chennai airport have seized 4.97kg of suspected hydroponically cultivated cannabis, valued at around Rs 5 crore in the illicit market, from an Indian passenger arriving from Bangkok. The passenger was arrested and remanded to judicial custody, according to the Chennai Customs Air Intelligence Unit (AIU).
The interception took place on Monday after officials profiled the passenger. During a detailed examination of his checked-in trolley suitcase, customs personnel found 10 transparent packets containing green-coloured flowering and fruiting tops. The packets had been concealed inside food packets placed in the luggage.
A preliminary examination using a narcotics field drug testing kit confirmed the presence of cannabis, the report said. Customs officials seized the material under Section 43 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Further investigation is under way.
The seizure is the third reported recovery of hydroponic ganja at Chennai airport within a week. On October 30, customs officials recovered 4.877kg of the substance from an Indian woman arriving from Kuala Lumpur. The 15 packets were concealed inside eight food and product packets in her checked-in trolley bag. She was arrested and remanded in judicial custody.
In an earlier case on October 29, an Indian passenger returning from Bangkok was arrested with 1.478kg of hydroponic ganja. The three seizures together involve more than 11kg of the contraband, based on the quantities reported by customs officials.
Officials said smuggling syndicates frequently target young people by funding their travel, accommodation and other expenses before using them to transport and deliver contraband into India. They warned that involvement in such activities could attract stringent punishment and create long-term legal consequences.
The latest passenger remains in judicial custody while the customs investigation continues. Authorities are examining the circumstances surrounding the shipment and the alleged smuggling network behind the repeated airport recoveries.
