Six Thai Nationals Arrested in Varanasi Airport with Hydroponic Cannabis Worth Rs 19 Crore

Customs officials have arrested six Thai nationals, including three women , after seizing hydroponic cannabis valued at more than Rs 19 crore from their possession at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi.

The arrests were made following the arrival of Air India Express flight IX-215 from Bangkok on Saturday. According to officials, the passengers were intercepted during routine screening, which led to a detailed examination of their luggage.

Authorities recovered 19.7 kilograms of hydroponic cannabis , a high-potency variety of the drug cultivated in nutrient-rich water systems rather than soil. The contraband was allegedly concealed inside plastic packets hidden in trolley bags.

During preliminary questioning, the accused reportedly told investigators that they had previously smuggled narcotics through the Kolkata-Gaya route . Officials are also investigating the role of another Thai woman who allegedly arranged hotel accommodations and coordinated the delivery of the consignment.

The six accused were produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody . Further investigations are underway to identify other individuals linked to the operation and determine the extent of the trafficking network.

The seizure highlights the continued use of international drug trafficking routes by organized smuggling syndicates seeking to move narcotics across borders. It also underscores the growing challenge faced by law enforcement agencies in combating the spread of high-potency and synthetic narcotics , which are increasingly finding their way into regional and global drug markets through sophisticated trafficking networks.