Hyderabad: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Hyderabad unit, seized 13.3 kg of hydroponic ganja worth about ₹13.3 crore from a woman passenger at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) on Monday.
Hydroponic ganja seizure at RGI Airport
According to DRI officials, the woman arrived from Bangkok on an international flight. Acting on suspicion, officers intercepted her at the arrival terminal and directed her baggage for detailed inspection. The search revealed 20 tightly packed bundles hidden inside her luggage. Field testing confirmed the substance as hydroponic ganja, a high-potency variant cultivated using water-based nutrient systems instead of soil.
Hydroponic ganja is in high demand in illegal markets due to its higher tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content. Officials said the seized narcotics could fetch over ₹13 crore in street value across metropolitan cities.
Officers booked the accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and remanded her to judicial custody. Investigators are probing her travel history, communication records, and suspected links to organised drug syndicates operating between Southeast Asia and India. The DRI is also working with Customs and immigration authorities to track potential accomplices.
The seizure comes amid a string of recent drug busts at RGIA, where agencies have intercepted cocaine, heroin, and synthetic drugs in separate operations. Authorities have urged travellers to avoid carrying parcels from unknown individuals abroad, warning of strict legal consequences under Indian narcotics laws.
