Customs officials at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru seized narcotic substances worth over Rs 3.43 crore in two coordinated seizures on Sunday, arresting two passengers arriving from Bangkok, Thailand in connection with drug smuggling attempts. The haul included 9.7 kg of hydroponic ganja, concealed inside checked luggage, and 1.7 kg of charas (hashish) cleverly hidden inside candy packets.
The Bengaluru Customs department announced the interceptions on its official ‘X’ handle and stated that the suspects have been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act as investigations continue. Officials highlighted that such seizures reflect strengthened intelligence-led operations and enhanced screening at major international airports to prevent the inflow of illegal narcotics into the country.
Major Drug Bust at Airport
In the first of two high-value interceptions late Sunday, Customs officials intercepted a passenger arriving on an international flight from Bangkok during routine baggage screening at Kempegowda International Airport. On closer inspection of the checked-in luggage, officers uncovered 9.7 kg of hydroponic ganja, wrapped and concealed in a manner designed to evade detection. The contraband’s estimated market value is Rs 3.39 crore, making it one of the larger individual consignments seized at the airport in recent months.
Hours later, acting on further intelligence, Customs teams stopped and searched another incoming passenger, also from Bangkok. This time, they uncovered 1.7 kg of charas, an illegal cannabis derivative, hidden ingeniously inside multiple packets of sweets and candies, apparently to mislead screening procedures. These narcotics are valued at approximately Rs 4.25 lakh on the street.
Both passengers were immediately taken into custody following the seizures and have been charged under appropriate sections of the NDPS Act, which carries stringent punishments for drug trafficking, including long prison terms and heavy fines. Customs officials confirmed that detailed questioning of both individuals is underway, with efforts being made to determine whether they are part of a larger international smuggling network or acting independently.
In their post on the official Customs X (formerly Twitter) handle, the department described the interceptions as outcomes of “targeted and risk-based profiling based on intelligence inputs,” adding that vigilant monitoring of international passenger traffic remains a priority for narcotics control at all major entry points into the country.
Rising Narcotics Smuggling Attempts Through Airports
Kempegowda International Airport, located in the southern tech hub city of Bengaluru, is among India’s busiest international airports. Over the past year, Customs and allied security agencies have increasingly reported successful interceptions of illicit drugs concealed in inventive ways from concealed luggage compartments and food containers to adulterated packaging that mimics innocuous goods.
Hydroponic ganja, grown without soil and known for its higher potency compared to traditionally cultivated weed, has drawn particular attention from enforcement agencies because of its greater market value and demand in certain urban segments. Law-enforcement sources note that traffickers are increasingly using international passenger flights especially routes from Southeast Asian cities like Bangkok as conduits for transporting drugs into India, where prices can be significantly higher.
Senior Customs officials have emphasised that continued seizures point to adaptive smuggling methods that evolve as authorities improve screening technology. “Criminals keep innovating in how they conceal contraband, but our teams are constantly refining profiling techniques, leveraging both behavioural analysis and technological aids at screening points,” said one officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation.
These latest arrests come amid a backdrop of other high-profile narcotics busts at Indian airports. In recent months, several cases involving the interception of hundreds of grams to several kilograms of narcotics including methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine and various forms of cannabis have been reported at international terminals across the country. While Bengaluru’s seizures rank among the larger ones in terms of quantity and value, authorities caution that many attempts still go undetected, underscoring the complexity of the challenge.
Broader Implications: Public Safety and Policy Challenges
The continued prevalence of narcotics smuggling through international travel routes raises questions not just about enforcement efficacy, but also about the underlying demand drivers that sustain illegal drug markets. India, like many countries, faces intertwined challenges: rising addiction rates in some communities, the lure of fast profits in trafficking, and international organised crime networks that exploit legal travel channels to transfer contraband.
Enforcement agencies, for their part, stress the importance of inter-agency coordination. At Bengaluru airport, Customs works closely with the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and international law-enforcement partners to share data and strengthen profiling systems. Real-time alerts and passenger data cross-checks have reportedly helped intercept suspicious consignments before they can enter circulation.
However, analysts argue that interdiction alone cannot resolve the broader drug problem. “Smuggling arrests are vital, but they represent only the tip of the iceberg,” said a public policy expert specialising in drug policy. “Unless demand is reduced and rehabilitative mechanisms are strengthened, traffickers will continue to seek new routes and methods to move their products.”
There is also growing debate among policymakers about balancing strict punitive measures with a focus on health-centred approaches to addiction. Some public health advocates assert that drug dependence should be treated primarily as a medical issue rather than a criminal offence, to encourage users who are often the weakest link in such chains to seek help without fear of stigma or punishment.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The recent seizures at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport rightly highlight the diligence and commitment of Customs officials in intercepting illegal drugs that pose a serious risk to individual and community health. Yet, while enforcement actions disrupt specific smuggling attempts, they do not by themselves address the deeper socio-economic and health-related drivers of drug use and trafficking.
Our commitment at The Logical Indian is to promote dialogue that pairs strong law enforcement against traffickers with compassionate, evidence-based policies that focus on rehabilitation, prevention, and community education. Tackling drug supply without addressing demand overlooks the lived realities of individuals and families affected by addiction.
