₹2.71 Crore Worth of Hydroponic Cannabis Seized at Hyderabad Airport

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 7.750 kg of hydroponic cannabis worth an estimated ₹2.71 crore from an Indian passenger arriving from Bangkok at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. The contraband was allegedly concealed inside an electric geyser carried in the passenger’s checked-in baggage. The agency disclosed the details in a statement released on Tuesday.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs, officials from the DRI Hyderabad Zonal Unit intensified surveillance at the airport to identify and intercept suspected drug trafficking attempts. On October 12, they intercepted an Indian passenger who had arrived on a flight from Bangkok, Thailand, following suspicions about his baggage.

During the subsequent search, officials examined the passenger’s checked-in luggage and found an electric geyser. When they opened the appliance for inspection, they discovered 73 packets containing a green substance concealed inside it. The unusual method of concealment raised concerns about an attempt to transport narcotics across international borders without detection.

The recovered material weighed 7.750 kg in total. Officials subjected the substance to testing using a narcotic drug detection kit, which confirmed that it was cannabis. The estimated value of the seized consignment in the illicit market was pegged at approximately ₹2.71 crore, making it a significant drug seizure at the Hyderabad airport.

Following the recovery, the DRI seized the suspected contraband and arrested the passenger under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The arrest forms part of the agency’s action against the illegal transportation of narcotic substances through international air routes.

The case has drawn attention to the methods used to conceal prohibited substances in ordinary household appliances and personal baggage. Such concealment can make the detection of narcotics more challenging without targeted surveillance and detailed baggage inspections.

The DRI said that further investigation is underway. Officials are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged smuggling attempt and establish whether other individuals or networks were involved in transporting the consignment. No further details about the passenger or the intended destination of the seized material were provided in the statement.