Pune Customs Makes Record Hydroponic Weed Seizure at Airport
In a significant anti-narcotics operation, the Air Intelligence Unit of Customs in Pune intercepted a man on Wednesday, recovering over 5 kilograms of high-end hydroponic weed. This bust represents the largest single-person contraband seizure from the city airport to date.
Details of the Interception and Seizure
According to Customs officials, a total of 5,429 grams of hydroponic weed was confiscated, with an estimated street value of a staggering Rs 5.42 crore in the illicit market. The suspect, a 32-year-old man from Mumbai, arrived in Pune from Bangkok aboard an Air India Express flight (IX-241). The flight departed Bangkok around 2:26 PM IST and landed in Pune at approximately 4:50 PM.
An official stated, "Earlier, we arrested many people trying to smuggle in contraband, but this is the first case in which such a large quantity was recovered from a single person. The man appears to be a willful carrier and was stopped based on intelligence inputs and profiling." The contraband was cleverly concealed in the checked-in luggage, wrapped in carbon paper and hidden inside five toy boxes to mimic gifts from Bangkok.
Arrest and Investigation Under NDPS Act
A thorough search of the luggage revealed the hydroponic weed, leading to the passenger's arrest under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Authorities confirmed this as the first major catch of the year, with further investigation ongoing. Willful carriers, as defined by officials, are individuals fully aware of smuggling drugs, gold, or other contraband through various concealment methods.
Shift in Smuggling Trends at Pune Airport
Historically, Pune airport saw high attempts to smuggle gold, including cases with unwilling carriers unaware of the contents in their bags. Currently, Pune operates five international flights: two to Bangkok, two to Dubai, and one to Abu Dhabi. Data from Customs authorities indicates that since last year, hydroponic weed has surpassed gold smuggling at the airport.
In 2025, authorities cracked 15 cases and arrested 16 people for attempted smuggling, with 12 arrests linked to narcotics trafficking. Notably, no gold smuggling attempts were recorded in 2025. Last year, Customs intercepted over 40 kilograms of weed, valued at more than Rs 40 crore.
Market Dynamics and Hydroponic Weed Characteristics
A Customs official explained, "Hydroponic weed is grown indoors and is superior in quality, commanding a much higher price compared to ordinary varieties. Pune serves as a significant market due to its large youth population and numerous educational institutions." This highlights the targeted nature of such smuggling operations in the region.
