Customs officers at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) in Ahmedabad arrested two individuals on 17 October 2025 after intercepting 2.117 kg of suspected ganja concealed in a passenger's baggage arriving from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The seizure was carried out by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Ahmedabad Customs on the basis of passenger profiling, officials said.

How the Seizure Unfolded

The primary suspect had arrived on flight VJ-1805 from Ho Chi Minh City. During a baggage examination, officers discovered seven vacuum-sealed packets containing a suspected green-coloured substance hidden inside a black hand bag. The total gross weight of the seized material, including its packaging, was approximately 2,117 grams.

A scientific officer from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) conducted a preliminary test on-site, which indicated the presence of active constituents of marijuana — commonly known as ganja — in all seven packets. The contraband was seized under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

Second Accused Identified Through Investigation

The investigation expanded beyond the original passenger after Customs officers identified a second individual who had come to the airport specifically to receive the traveller. According to officials, this second accused had allegedly coordinated the passenger's travel arrangements on the instructions of persons reportedly based abroad.

Crucially, WhatsApp chats recovered during the probe contained communications directly linked to the passenger's travel arrangements and baggage handling. “WhatsApp chats recovered during the investigation contained communications relating to the passenger's travel arrangements and baggage,” officials said. Both men have since been arrested in connection with the case.

Links to an Overseas Network Under Scrutiny

Investigators are now working to establish the precise roles of all individuals involved and to trace the alleged connections to persons based overseas. The use of a coordinated logistics network — with a local receiver and apparent foreign handlers — suggests this may be part of a larger smuggling operation rather than an isolated act, according to officials. The investigation is ongoing.

Part of a Wider Pattern at Ahmedabad Airport

This seizure is not an isolated incident. It follows a series of narcotics interceptions at SVPIA in recent months. On 21 September, Customs officials seized 8.913 kg of hydroponic ganja from a passenger arriving from Bangkok. In a separate operation around the same period, 5.519 kg of suspected hydroponic marijuana was found concealed within food packaging. The recurring pattern points to Ahmedabad emerging as a transit point of concern for international drug trafficking routes, particularly those originating in Southeast Asia.

With the overseas handlers yet to be identified, investigators are expected to pursue the case's international dimensions in the coming weeks.