Hydroponic Ganja Worth ₹9.5 Crore Seized at Hyderabad Airport, Seven Held

A major international drug smuggling attempt was foiled at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport , where officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 27.15 kilograms of hydroponic cannabis valued at approximately ₹9.5 crore . The operation, carried out in the early hours around 1:15 a.m. , led to the arrest of seven individuals , including four passengers who had arrived from Bangkok and three associates who were allegedly waiting outside the terminal to receive the consignment. The interception followed specific intelligence inputs about a suspected narcotics transfer at the airport.

According to officials, the accused were stopped while attempting to hand over check-in baggage soon after arrival. A detailed inspection of trolley bags revealed multiple concealed packets hidden within the luggage structure. Field testing using a narcotic detection kit confirmed the substance as cannabis, and authorities identified it as hydroponically grown , a soil-free cultivation method that typically produces high-potency variants with strong illegal market demand. The sophisticated concealment and coordinated handover suggest an organised trafficking module rather than isolated courier activity.

Investigators believe the seizure fits into a pattern of recent attempts to route premium-grade cannabis from Southeast Asia into India through air passengers. Media reports and enforcement records indicate multiple similar interceptions in recent months, pointing to Bangkok as a recurring source point. Such operations often involve recruiting travellers to carry contraband in modified luggage, with local contacts assigned to collect the drugs immediately after arrival to reduce risk within airport premises.

A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 , where the seized quantity falls under the commercial category , carrying stringent legal consequences including long-term imprisonment and heavy fines if proven in court. Authorities are now analysing digital evidence, travel histories, financial trails, and CCTV footage to identify the network’s masterminds , supply chain links, and intended recipients in Hyderabad. Seized samples will undergo forensic laboratory analysis to formally confirm composition and potency as the probe expands into a wider anti-narcotics investigation.