Customs seize 3.75 kg hydroponic ganja worth ₹3.75 lakh at Surat airport

Officers of the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Customs, Surat, on Monday seized over 3.75 kg of hydroponic ganja from an Air India Express aircraft during a post-arrival rummaging operation at Surat International Airport, officials said.

According to Customs officials, the seizure was made during a thorough search of Air India Express Flight IX-263. During the rummaging of the entire aircraft, officers recovered seven vacuum-packed polythene packets wrapped in brown cello tape from pouches located around the safety jackets beneath seats numbered 20F, 20E, 20D, 20C, 20B, 20A and 15F.

The recovered packets, which were found concealed under multiple passenger seats, remained unclaimed, officials said.

The substance was subsequently tested by an officer of the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL) and was confirmed to be marijuana (cannabis), specifically hydroponic ganja. The total gross weight of the seized contraband was 3.75 kg worth ₹3.75 lakh market value.

Customs officials said the unclaimed narcotic substance has been seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

Further investigation is under way to identify those responsible for concealing the contraband and to ascertain whether the seizure is linked to a larger drug trafficking network, officials added.