Customs authorities at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad confiscated hydroponic ganja valued at approximately Rs 14 crore on Friday. The contraband, discovered from two passengers arriving from Qatar, was estimated to be worth the same amount in the global market.
Upon suspicion, Customs officers intercepted the two passengers from Qatar and subjected their baggage to detailed scanning and physical inspection. Inside the luggage, officials found packets of hydroponic ganja concealed during the scanning process, with a total of 14 kilograms seized.
The two passengers have been detained for questioning to determine the origin and intended destination of the drug, as officials investigate potential links to international drug syndicates. This seizure follows a recent incident where one kilogram of hydroponic ganja was abandoned by a passenger on a flight seat to avoid detection during inspections.
Authorities have observed an increase in attempts to smuggle high-grade hydroponic ganja cultivated abroad into India. To combat such activities, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and other agencies have heightened surveillance at international airports.
