Hydroponic Marijuana in Containers Seized in Delhi Air Cargo Complex

Ø Over 23 kg hydroponic weed seized worth around ₹8.12 crore

· Major seizure: Delhi Customs seized 23.220 kg of hydroponic marijuana, with an estimated market value of ₹8.12 crore and street value of nearly ₹23 crore.

· Smuggling route: The narcotics were concealed in a wooden pallet inside a consignment of lamps imported from Bangkok.

· Detection method: X-ray imaging revealed suspicious patterns, leading officers to dismantle the pallet and recover 23 vacuum-sealed packets containing the contraband.

· Investigation link: The seizure followed an earlier recovery of 148.675 kg of ganja from Bangkok and subsequent investigations into a larger smuggling syndicate.

· Arrest: One additional person was arrested on 22 October 2026 and produced before the jurisdictional Magistrate.

· Total enforcement action: Delhi Customs has seized nearly 172 kg of narcotics and arrested two individuals in the ongoing investigation.

· Legal action: The narcotics and concealment materials were seized under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

· Further investigation: Customs is continuing its investigation to identify and dismantle the wider drug-trafficking network.

[ABS News Service/24.10.2026]

On the intervening night of 21^st/22^nd October, 2026, Air Cargo Complex (ACC) Imports Commissionerate, Delhi Customs officers have made another major breakthrough in their ongoing investigation against narcotics trafficking networks. Preliminary testing confirmed the recovered substance to be Hydroponic Marijuana (Hydro Weed). In total, 23.220 kg of the narcotic substance was recovered and seized.

The seized narcotics are estimated to have a market value of approximately ₹8.12 crore, with an estimated street value of nearly ₹23 crore in India. The contraband, along with the concealment and packing materials used for smuggling, has been seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

Acting on intelligence gathered from the during the previous bust of 148.675 kg ganja from Bangkok, Customs officers intercepted another suspicious import consignment arriving from Bangkok, which had been declared as containing lamps. The earlier seizure led to the unearthing of a larger smuggling syndicate and triggered a series of coordinated follow-up operations across 11 locations in three States.

The consignment came under scrutiny following the interrogation of an individual found to be linked with the person arrested earlier on 15^th October,2026 in the first seizure. Detailed examination of the shipment, conducted in the presence of the importer, revealed several lamps mounted on a wooden pallet. While the goods appeared innocuous, X-ray imaging indicated unusual patterns. Subsequent examination led officers to dismantle the base of the wooden pallet, resulting in the recovery of 23 vacuum-sealed packets containing a compressed green leafy substance concealed within the pallet structure.

The current operation led to the arrest of one more person on 22^nd October, 2026, who was produced before the jurisdictional Magistrate in the late evening on the same day. Further investigation is on.

With this latest seizure, Delhi Customs has seized nearly 172 kg narcotics in the ongoing investigation and arrested two individuals, making significant dent in the trafficking network.

Delhi Customs remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding society from the menace of drugs through intelligence-driven enforcement, enhanced risk assessment, and coordinated inter-agency action. The Department will continue to maintain a high level of vigilance to detect and disrupt such criminal networks.