Two flyers from Bangkok held at IGIA with over 17 kg drug valued over Rs 17 cr

Customs officials at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport have seized more than 17 kilograms of marijuana in two separate operations, leading to the arrest of two Indian passengers arriving from Bangkok, officials said on Monday.

The total estimated value of the narcotics seized in both cases is approximately Rs 17.20 crore.

According to Customs, the first interception occurred on December 6 during routine surveillance at the Green Channel.

An Indian passenger arriving from Bangkok was flagged based on spot profiling and subjected to a detailed baggage and personal examination. Officers recovered nine polythene pouches containing moist green plant material weighing 4,085 gm. A preliminary narcotics field test confirmed the substance as marijuana. The passenger was arrested under Section 43(b) of the NDPS Act, 1985 and the contraband was seized.

A similar incident took place the following day when another Indian national arriving from Bangkok was intercepted after officers noticed suspicious behaviour.

Upon X-ray scanning and physical inspection of a brown trolley bag, officials recovered 13 sealed polythene pouches containing green marijuana weighing 13,128 grams. Field testing confirmed the substance, valued at approximately Rs 13.12 crore, as marijuana. The passenger was arrested at 10.00 am under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act.

In both cases, Customs officials confirmed violations of Section 8 and offences punishable under Sections 20, 23 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The seized drugs, along with packaging and concealment materials, were taken into custody as evidence.

Customs authorities at IGI Airport said investigations are ongoing to determine possible links to organised trafficking networks and repeated smuggling attempts via the same foreign route.