Pune Customs officials have seized hydroponic marijuana worth approximately Rs 26.80 crore from an import consignment at the Air Cargo Complex of Pune International Airport, marking a major drug bust and exposing a sophisticated smuggling attempt.

The seizure, made on March 26, involved a shipment that had arrived from Thailand and was declared as “Mandarin orange sacs”, with packaging suggesting it contained food items of Chinese origin.

Suspicion Raised During Routine Scanning

According to officials, the consignment was packed in white thermocol boxes and subjected to routine scanning at the cargo facility. During the process, customs officers detected irregularities in the scanned images, which did not match the expected appearance of organic food products.

Acting on this suspicion, officers opened one of the boxes and found sealed tin cans instead of fruit products. This immediately raised further red flags, prompting a detailed inspection of the shipment.

Inside the cans, officials initially found a salt-like white granular substance. However, upon closer examination and removal of the material, vacuum-sealed transparent plastic packets were discovered concealed within.

76 Kg Of Hydroponic Marijuana Recovered

The concealed packets were found to contain hydroponic marijuana, a high-grade form of cannabis known for its potency and higher market value compared to conventional variants.

A thorough inspection of the entire consignment led to the recovery of 76.58 kilograms of hydroponic marijuana. The total estimated value of the seized drugs in the illicit Indian market is around Rs 26.80 crore.

The method of concealment – hiding drugs within sealed cans and disguising them as food items—indicates a well-planned smuggling operation designed to evade detection through routine checks.

One Arrested, Probe Into Larger Network

Following the seizure, Pune Customs launched a follow-up operation, resulting in the arrest of one accused linked to the consignment. Officials are now investigating the supply chain and attempting to identify other individuals involved in the smuggling network.

Authorities suspect that the operation may be part of a larger international drug trafficking racket, given the cross-border origin of the consignment and the scale of the seizure.

Further investigations are underway to trace the source of the drugs, identify distribution channels within India, and uncover any links to organised crime networks.

Growing Concern Over Synthetic And High-Grade Drugs

The seizure highlights the increasing use of advanced concealment techniques and the rising presence of high-value narcotics like hydroponic marijuana in India.

Customs officials said vigilance at cargo terminals has been intensified, with greater focus on profiling suspicious consignments and leveraging technology to detect anomalies.

The bust underscores the importance of coordinated enforcement efforts in tackling drug trafficking and preventing the entry of illegal substances into the country.

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