Ahmedabad Customs seizes 467.5g suspected ganja from Thailand parcel
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Ahmedabad Customs officers at the Foreign Post Office (FPO) in Ahmedabad intercepted a parcel arriving from Thailand on Tuesday, 30 June, after discovering 467.5 grams of suspected ganja concealed inside a consignment falsely declared as 'wooden blocks'. The seizure underscores a pattern of cannabis trafficking into Gujarat through international postal and air routes.
How the Seizure Unfolded
During routine examination of incoming international parcels at the FPO, Customs officers flagged a suspicious carton originating from Thailand. On opening the package, they found two polythene packets containing a substance suspected to be ganja (cannabis). The total gross weight of the contraband, including its packaging, was recorded at 467.5 grams.
The suspected narcotic was seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. A further investigation is under way to identify the intended recipient and determine whether the parcel is linked to a broader trafficking network.
Part of a Wider Gujarat Drug Trail
The FPO interception is the latest in a series of narcotics busts in Gujarat tied to the Thailand–Ahmedabad corridor. On the preceding Sunday, Customs officers at Ahmedabad airport arrested a passenger arriving from Bangkok after recovering 10.911 kg of suspected hydroponic marijuana concealed in checked baggage. Officials estimated the value of that seizure at ₹11 crore, and the case is being investigated under the NDPS Act.
In May, Customs intercepted another Bangkok-bound passenger and seized approximately 6.54 kg of suspected hybrid marijuana hidden in luggage. Earlier, in January, officers at the airport recovered 7.7 kg of hydroponic cannabis — valued at roughly ₹8 crore — from a passenger arriving from Bangkok, the contraband found vacuum-packed inside checked baggage.
Gujarat as an Emerging Entry Point
Investigators have noted that the frequency of these seizures points to deliberate attempts by international drug traffickers to exploit Gujarat as a transit and entry point for cannabis smuggled from overseas. The use of postal consignments with misleading declarations adds a layer of concealment that differs from the body-carry methods seen in the airport cases.
Notably, this is at least the fourth significant cannabis interception in Gujarat linked to Thailand since January, suggesting an organised supply chain rather than isolated incidents.
What Happens Next
Customs officials confirmed that the investigation into the FPO seizure is ongoing under the NDPS Act. Authorities are working to trace the consignee details and map any connections to the earlier airport cases. The pattern of seizures is expected to prompt a review of screening protocols at the Ahmedabad FPO and heightened surveillance on parcels originating from Southeast Asia.