Hyderabad airport drug bust: Two held with Rs 4.6 crore hydroponic weed at RGIA
Acting on behavioural profiling, officers examined his baggage and found 22 vacuum-sealed packets containing a green leafy substance.
By Newsmeter Network
Hyderabad: In a major crackdown on international drug trafficking, Customs officials at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) arrested two persons and seized 13.2 kg of hydroponic weed valued at approximately Rs 4.6 crore.
Passenger was intercepted based on profiling
Officials of the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU), Customs Hyderabad, intercepted an Indian passenger who arrived from Bangkok on a Thai Airways flight (TG-329) in the early hours of April 7.
Acting on behavioural profiling, officers examined his baggage and found 22 vacuum-sealed packets containing a green leafy substance.
Subsequent testing confirmed the substance to be hydroponic weed, a prohibited narcotic under the NDPS Act, 1985. The contraband, weighing 13.2 kg, was seized following due legal procedures.
Kingpin nabbed in follow-up operation
In a follow-up operation on April 8, Customs officials arrested another individual suspected to be the mastermind behind the smuggling racket.
Authorities said the accused played a key role in arranging travel, logistics, and coordinating instructions for carriers involved in the operation.
The accused has been remanded to judicial custody, and further investigation is underway to uncover the wider network.
Rising trend in hydroponic weed smuggling
Officials revealed that during the financial year 2025–26, Hyderabad Customs seized a total of 160 kg of hydroponic weed and arrested 30 individuals linked to such cases. The latest seizure highlights a growing trend of smuggling high-value narcotics through international routes.
Customs authorities are continuing their investigation to identify other members of the network and possible international links behind the smuggling operations.
