Mumbai Customs Seize Hydroponic Weed Worth Rs 20 Crore At Airport, 3 Held

Last Updated:May 10, 2026, 09:31 IST

Apart from the drug seizures, customs officials also booked a separate case involving foreign currency smuggling.

Mumbai Customs officials have seized suspected hydroponic weed worth nearly Rs 20 crore in two separate operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, exposing yet another international drug smuggling route linked to Bangkok.

According to officials from the Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai Customs Zone-III, the seizures were made during operations conducted between May 7 and May 8 based on passenger profiling and specific intelligence inputs.

In the biggest haul, customs officers intercepted a passenger who arrived in Mumbai from Bangkok on a Thai Airways flight. During the search, officials allegedly recovered 17.915 kilograms of suspected hydroponic weed concealed in the passenger’s baggage. The seized narcotic substance is estimated to be worth around Rs 17.91 crore in the illegal market.

In another operation carried out on the basis of specific intelligence, customs officers detained two passengers who had arrived from Bangkok on an Air India flight. A detailed examination of their luggage led to the recovery of 1.9 kilograms of suspected hydroponic weed valued at approximately Rs 1.9 crore.

Officials said both cases are being investigated under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The accused passengers have been taken into custody and further investigations are underway to trace the larger network involved in the smuggling operations.

Apart from the drug seizures, customs officials also booked a separate case involving foreign currency smuggling.

During profiling checks, officers intercepted a passenger travelling from Jamnagar to Dubai via Mumbai on an IndiGo flight. A search allegedly led to the recovery of USD 1,00,000, equivalent to nearly Rs 93.45 lakh. Officials suspect the currency was being carried in violation of foreign exchange regulations.

Mumbai airport has witnessed a sharp rise in attempts to smuggle hydroponic weed in recent months, with Bangkok continuing to emerge as a key source point for narcotics trafficking into India. Customs officials said intensified surveillance, data profiling and intelligence-based operations have helped crack down on carriers attempting to exploit international flight routes.

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