Pune Customs seizes hydroponic marijuana worth ₹3.72 crore at airport, arrests passenger

Image used for representational purposes only. | Photo credit: AP

On November 4, Pune Customs detained an Indian passenger arriving from Bangkok and seized 10.642 kg of hydroponic marijuana with an estimated value of ₹ 3.72 crore at the Pune International Airport. The contraband was hidden in packages marked as freeze-dried durian fruit and hidden among food items in the passenger’s check-in luggage.

According to a press release issued by Pune Customs on November 5, Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) and Airport Lottery officers detained a passenger who had arrived on Air India Express flight IX-291 on Wednesday (November 4, 2026) evening. The wiretapping was based on passenger profiling and suspicious findings during baggage scans.

During a close inspection of the trolley, officials discovered nine silver-colored rectangular packages labeled “Freeze-dried Monthong Durian” hidden among the noodle packages. Each package was further wrapped in two layers of vacuum-sealed black polyethylene.

After opening the packages, officers found a yellow-green dried floral material emitting a pungent odor. Preliminary tests conducted using a narcotics testing kit returned a positive result for marijuana, which Customs identified as hydroponic weed.

The entire consignment weighing 10.642 kg and worth around ₹ 3.72 crore was seized along with the packaging materials under the Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

The passenger was subsequently arrested and brought before a judge, who remanded the accused in judicial custody until November 18.

Customs officials said further investigations are underway to determine the possible involvement of a smuggling syndicate.

Published – November 6, 2026 11:57 AM IST