Customs officials at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport have arrested two Indian women passengers arriving from Bangkok in separate drug-smuggling cases after recovering nearly 9.5 kg of suspected ganja, estimated to be worth around Rs 3.33 crore, from their trolley bags. The seizures were made at Terminal 3 on October 30, following passenger profiling by Customs officials. Both passengers were intercepted after being diverted from the Green Channel for detailed baggage examination. Preliminary diagnostic tests indicated that the recovered green-coloured substance was ganja or marijuana, according to separate press releases issued by the Office of the Commissioner of Customs (Airport and General).
In the first case, a woman passenger arriving on Thai Airways flight TG331 from Bangkok was intercepted on October 30. The flight was dated October 29, according to the Customs release. During the examination of her grey-coloured trolley bag, officials recovered six polythene pouches containing a green-coloured substance suspected to be narcotics. The seized material weighed 6,540 grams (6.54 kg) in net weight and was estimated to be worth approximately Rs 2.29 crore.
Customs officials said the substance was subjected to a preliminary diagnostic examination, which indicated that it was ganja or marijuana. The passenger was subsequently arrested under Section 43(b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, on October 30. The suspected contraband, along with the packaging material, was seized under Section 43(a) of the Act.
In the second case, another Indian woman passenger arriving from Bangkok on Thai Airways flight TG315 on October 30 was intercepted at the airport following profiling. She was diverted to the Green Channel for baggage inspection. During the examination of her grey-coloured trolley bag, Customs officials found two polythene pouches concealed inside it. The pouches contained a green-coloured substance weighing 2,988.7 grams (nearly 3 kg) in net weight. The substance tested positive for ganja or marijuana during preliminary testing and was valued at approximately Rs 1.04 crore, the department said. The second passenger was also arrested under Section 43(b) of the NDPS Act on October 30, while the suspected narcotics and concealment material were seized under Section 43(a).
In both cases, Customs has booked the passengers under Sections 8, 20, 23 and 29 of the NDPS Act. Section 8 prohibits the production, possession, sale, purchase, transportation and import or export of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, except for purposes permitted under the law. Sections 20, 23 and 29 deal with offences involving cannabis, illegal import and export of narcotic substances, and abetment or criminal conspiracy, respectively.
The two seizures together account for 9,528.7 grams, or approximately 9.53 kg, of suspected ganja. The combined estimated value of the recovered substance stands at around Rs 3.33 crore. The recoveries come amid a series of narcotics seizures at the Delhi airport involving passengers arriving from Bangkok. Customs officials have intercepted several passengers in recent weeks after identifying suspicious baggage through passenger profiling and subsequent screening.
In a separate operation on October 28, Customs officials seized 26.67 kg of suspected hydroponic weed, valued at approximately Rs 9.33 crore, from two Indian passengers arriving from Bangkok in separate flights. The contraband was recovered from 26 polythene pouches concealed in two trolley bags, and both passengers were arrested under the NDPS Act.