NEW DELHI: Delhi Customs officials have seized 23.220 kg of suspected hydroponic marijuana, also known as hydro weed, valued at approximately ₹8.12 crore, at the Air Cargo Complex in New Delhi. The seizure was made during the intervening night of October 21 and 22, according to a press release issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB).
Preliminary testing confirmed the recovered substance to be hydroponic marijuana. Customs officials said its estimated street value in India could be nearly ₹23 crore.
Drugs Concealed Inside Wooden Pallet
- According to Delhi Customs, the consignment arrived from Bangkok and had been declared as containing lamps. Officers examined the shipment after developing intelligence linked to an earlier narcotics seizure.
- Although the shipment appeared to contain ordinary lamps mounted on a wooden pallet, X-ray imaging revealed unusual patterns. A detailed inspection led officers to dismantle the pallet’s base, where they discovered 23 vacuum sealed packets containing a compressed green leafy substance.
- The narcotics, along with the materials used to conceal and pack them, were seized under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
Linked to Earlier Narcotics Seizure
- The latest operation followed an earlier seizure of 148.675 kg of ganja from a consignment originating in Bangkok. That case reportedly led investigators to identify a wider suspected smuggling network and conduct coordinated follow-up operations at 11 locations across three states.
- Customs officials said the latest consignment came under scrutiny following the questioning of a person linked to an individual arrested in connection with the earlier seizure on October 15, 2026.
- One more person was arrested on October 22 and produced before the jurisdictional magistrate later that day.
Nearly 172 Kg of Narcotics Seized
- With this latest operation, Delhi Customs reported that nearly 172 kg of narcotics had been seized in the ongoing investigation, with two people arrested so far.
- Officials said the department would continue intelligence-led enforcement and coordinated operations to identify and disrupt drug-trafficking networks.
- Further investigation is underway to establish the full extent of the alleged smuggling operation and identify any other people involved.
Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB), Delhi Customs press release dated October 23, 2026.
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