Officers of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs at the Air Cargo Complex Import facility in New Delhi have stopped one of the largest attempts to smuggle narcotic drugs into India. Acting on locally gathered information, customs teams intercepted a shipment arriving from Bangkok and discovered a substantial quantity of green-coloured marijuana hidden inside plastic spools meant for PU tubes.
The contraband, weighing 148.67 kg, was concealed across 15 of the 19 cartons that made up the declared shipment. The consignment had been flagged initially due to suspected false declaration. Preliminary field tests confirmed the substance to be ganja or marijuana, grown using hydroponic methods. The seized drugs are valued at approximately Rs 52 crore wholesale, though their estimated street value in India is placed at Rs 150 crore.
Key facts
- Quantity seized: 148.67 kg hydroponic marijuana
- Origin: Bangkok
- Detection point: Air Cargo Complex Import, New Customs House, New Delhi
- Date of seizure and arrest: 15 October 2026
- Wholesale value: Rs 52 crore
- Estimated street value in India: Rs 150 crore
- Method of concealment: Hidden inside 120 plastic spools within PU tube cartons
- Number of cartons containing drugs: 15 out of 19
- Duration of operation: Over 72 hours
- Arrests made: One person arrested on 15 October 2026
- Follow-up searches: Five premises across three states
- Legal action: Seizure under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985
How the smuggling was detected
The shipment arrived at the air cargo terminal with a declaration stating it contained only PU tubes. However, customs officers noted discrepancies in the documentation that warranted closer inspection. When the packages were physically examined in the presence of the importer’s representative, officers found plastic spools wrapped inside. Upon breaking open the spools, they discovered hidden cavities containing packets of compacted green substance wrapped in polythene.
The contraband was distributed across multiple spools to avoid detection. A total of 120 spools concealed the 148.67 kg of marijuana. The concealment method, where narcotics were packed into cavities within legitimate-seeming cargo items, is a common technique used by smugglers to avoid customs detection.
Investigation and legal proceedings
The operation, which lasted more than 72 hours, led to the arrest of one individual on 15 October 2026. The arrested person was produced before a magistrate on the same day as per legal procedure. The seized drugs and all packaging and concealment materials have been formally seized under provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985, which criminalises the manufacture, possession, sale and transport of narcotic substances and psychotropic drugs in India.
Following the interception at the airport cargo complex, customs teams carried out follow-up searches at five different premises located across three states. These searches have yielded important information that is assisting the ongoing investigation into the smuggling network.
Scale of the operation
The size of this seizure places it among the largest narcotics smuggling attempts intercepted at Indian airports. The street value estimate of Rs 150 crore indicates the scale of the black market for such substances in India. Smugglers are often motivated by the substantial profit margins available when drugs are sold illegally within the country compared to their cost of acquisition abroad.
What this means for you
This operation demonstrates the efforts of customs authorities to intercept illegal drugs before they enter the domestic market. If you or your business imports goods through air cargo, be aware that customs officials conduct physical inspections based on risk assessment and intelligence. Ensure all documentation is accurate and honest, and be prepared for examination of shipments, especially those involving concealment risks.
The seizure also underscores the penalties for involvement in drug smuggling: criminal prosecution under the NDPS Act, arrest, and confiscation of goods and assets involved in the illegal trade.