Customs Seize 2.7 Kg Suspected Hydroponic Weed Hidden in Chocolate Packets at Delhi Airport

Customs officials at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, Delhi, have allegedly seized 2.7 kg of suspected hydroponic weed concealed inside chocolate packets from a passenger arriving from Phuket, Thailand, officials said on Sunday. The passenger was arrested, and the suspected contraband was seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, while authorities have also cited violations of India's customs regulations governing the illegal import of prohibited goods.

According to officials, the passenger arrived at IGI Airport on August 2 and was intercepted after crossing the Customs Green Channel based on profiling through the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS). The Green Channel is meant for passengers who are not carrying dutiable, restricted, or prohibited goods, and crossing it amounts to a declaration that no such items are being imported.

During X-ray screening of the passenger's baggage, customs officers noticed suspicious images. A subsequent search led to the recovery of four vacuum-sealed packets containing a green-coloured substance suspected to be hydroponic weed (ganja). The packets had been concealed inside chocolate packets in an apparent attempt to evade detection.

Officials said the recovered substance weighed 2,759 grams, including the packing material. Hydroponic weed is a high-potency variety of cannabis cultivated in nutrient-rich water instead of soil and is often associated with higher concentrations of psychoactive compounds.

The passenger was arrested under Section 43(b) of the NDPS Act, 1985, while the suspected ganja, along with the concealment and packaging materials, was seized under Section 43(a) of the Act. In addition, officials said the case involves the illegal import of prohibited narcotic substances in contravention of the Customs Act, 1962, which empowers customs authorities to intercept, examine, and seize prohibited goods brought into India.

Further investigation is underway to determine the source of the suspected contraband and whether the accused has links to a broader international narcotics smuggling network. The seizure underscores the continued use of intelligence-based passenger profiling and baggage screening to curb cross-border drug trafficking through Indian airports.