Customs officers at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) in Ahmedabad seized 10.91 kg of hydroponic marijuana — valued at approximately ₹11 crore in the international market — from a passenger who had arrived from Bangkok on Sunday, 28 June. The male passenger, a resident of Mangrol town in Junagadh district, was arrested on the spot under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

How the Seizure Unfolded

Officers of the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Ahmedabad Customs flagged the passenger after he disembarked from Thai Airways flight TG-343. A customs sniffer dog gave a positive indication of narcotics in the checked-in baggage, prompting officers to intercept the traveller using his baggage tag.

A detailed search of the passenger's checked-in trolley bag led to the recovery of five silver-coloured polythene packets containing green-coloured plant material concealed within the luggage. A field testing kit confirmed the substance as hydroponic marijuana (ganja), with a total net weight of 10,911 grams.

'The total net weight of the seized contraband was 10,911 grams. The seized hydroponic marijuana is estimated to be worth approximately ₹11 crore in the international market,' a customs official said.

Wider Pattern: Bangkok-Ahmedabad Route Under Scrutiny

This latest interception is part of a growing series of drug seizures on the Bangkok–Ahmedabad corridor. Last month, Ahmedabad Customs arrested a passenger after recovering more than 20 kg of marijuana from checked baggage on another Bangkok flight. In separate operations, approximately 6.5 kg and around 4 kg of hydroponic marijuana were recovered from two other Bangkok passengers travelling on the same Thai Airways route.

Notably, the trend extends beyond Ahmedabad. Last week, Mumbai Customs arrested two passengers arriving from Bangkok after recovering more than 19 kg of hydroponic cannabis from their baggage — underscoring what officials say is a sustained smuggling pipeline targeting Indian airports via Thailand.

Investigation and Legal Action

The contraband has been formally seized under the NDPS Act, 1985, and the passenger has been placed under arrest. Investigators are working to establish the source of the consignment, its intended recipients, and any links to larger trafficking networks. Further details are expected as the probe progresses.

What the Pattern Signals

Hydroponic marijuana — cultivated in controlled indoor environments — commands a significantly higher street price than conventional cannabis due to its elevated potency. Its repeated appearance in Bangkok-origin baggage at multiple Indian airports suggests an organised supply chain rather than isolated incidents. Customs authorities have not yet publicly identified any network, and investigations remain ongoing.