Customs officers at Delhi’s Air Cargo Complex have seized 148.67 kg of suspected cannabis concealed inside plastic spools in a consignment arriving from Bangkok, officials said.
The seized substance was valued at approximately ₹52 crore, while its estimated street value in India was pegged at ₹150 crore, according to a statement issued by the Office of the Principal Commissioner of Customs.
The operation was conducted by the Special Intelligence and Investigation Branch (SIIB) following intelligence developed locally.
The consignment, packed in 19 cartons and declared as polyurethane (PU) tubes, was placed on hold after officers suspected misdeclaration. During an examination in the presence of the importer’s representative, officials discovered plastic spools containing concealed packets of a compacted green substance wrapped in polythene.
The packets were found inside hidden cavities in 15 cartons. Preliminary diagnostic tests indicated that the substance was ganja, or marijuana.
120 Spools Used to Conceal Suspected Cannabis
According to the Customs Department, a total of 120 plastic spools were used to conceal the 148.67 kg of suspected hydroponic cannabis.
The suspected narcotics, along with the concealment and packaging materials, were seized under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
The operation lasted more than 72 hours and resulted in the arrest of one person on October 15. The individual was produced before a magistrate the same day.
Follow-up searches at five premises across three states yielded further leads in the ongoing investigation, the department said.
The operation was monitored by senior Customs officials, including the Chief Commissioner and Principal Commissioner of Customs, Air Cargo Complex (Imports), and supervised by the Additional Commissioner of Customs.
The department said further investigation was underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the attempted smuggling and identify any other individuals involved.
