Hyderabad: Customs seize hydroponic weed worth ₹4 Cr, electronic gadgets worth ₹71.7L from passengers at RGIA

Hyderabad: Customs officials at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), Hyderabad, have recovered narcotics and high-end electronic goods worth Rs 4.71 crore from inbound passengers on separate flights.

Hydroponic Weed Worth ₹4 Crore Seized from Bangkok Passenger

In the first case, officials intercepted a passenger who arrived from Bangkok. Upon examination of the traveller’s baggage, authorities found 4.3 kilograms of suspected hydroponic weed, concealed in a trolley bag. The illicit market value of the seized contraband is estimated to be ₹4 crore.

Hydroponic weed, a form of cannabis cultivated using nutrient-rich water without soil, is known for its high potency and is often smuggled into India from Southeast Asian countries.

Electronic Gadgets Worth ₹71.7 Lakh Recovered from Abu Dhabi Passengers

In a separate case, Customs officials, with assistance from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), recovered a large quantity of high-end electronic goods from the checked-in baggage of two passengers who arrived from Abu Dhabi.

The seized items include:

• 10 iPhone 17 Pro Max units

• 55 iPhone 17 Pro units

• 10 Apple Watch SEs

• 10 I Watch SEs

• 8 DJI Air 3S drones

• 4 Nintendo Switch 2 consoles

• 1 Samsung Galaxy Fold 7

• 1 HMD phone, and

• 1 Google Pixel Watch 3

The total value of the seized goods is estimated at ₹71,71,407. The goods were handed over to Customs by CISF personnel after routine baggage screening raised suspicion.

Ongoing Surveillance and Enforcement at RGIA

Hyderabad Customs officials have maintained that enhanced surveillance and intelligence-led checks at RGIA continue to yield significant results in curbing smuggling attempts. Over the past year, the airport has witnessed an increase in cases involving narcotics and high-value electronic items.

Both cases are currently under detailed investigation under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, and relevant NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act sections.