Marijuana Worth Rs 72 Lakh Seized at Pune Airport; Woman Passenger Arrested

Air Intelligence Unit busts high-grade marijuana smuggling at Pune Airport, arresting a woman and highlighting rising narcotics trafficking challenges.

Pune|11 December 2025: A significant anti-narcotics operation at Pune International Airport led to the seizure of high-grade hydroponic marijuana valued at around Rs 72 lakh, with a woman passenger taken into custody on suspicion of drug trafficking. The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) intercepted the woman on December 6 after she arrived on an Air India Express flight. Officers had acted on specific intelligence and detailed profiling aimed at identifying passengers possibly involved in smuggling contraband. During a routine baggage check, customs officials discovered two cylindrical cans that were expertly modified to hide the narcotic substance, indicating a planned attempt to bypass standard security screening.

The marijuana recovered weighed approximately 722 grams. Its concealment in cleverly altered containers suggests that smugglers are resorting to increasingly sophisticated methods to transport drugs via commercial flights. After the substance was uncovered, officials arrested the woman under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and began questioning her to understand the source of the drugs and whether she was acting alone or as part of a larger network. Investigators are now working to trace how the narcotics entered the pipeline and where they were intended to be distributed.

This seizure is not an isolated incident at Pune Airport. Just days before this bust, customs and air intelligence teams intercepted another passenger arriving from Bangkok on an IndiGo flight and confiscated a much larger quantity of hydroponic marijuana, weighing more than two kilograms and valued at over Rs 2 crore in the illicit market. That passenger was also arrested, and authorities said the case remains under active investigation as they look for links to broader smuggling operations. These back-to-back interceptions reflect the growing challenge faced by law enforcement in curbing drug trafficking through major travel hubs.

Hydroponic marijuana, the type seized in both incidents, is a form of cannabis cultivated in a controlled environment without soil. This method of cultivation often results in higher potency compared to traditional varieties, making it more valuable in illegal markets. Narcotics experts explain that such high-grade weed attracts organised smuggling rings because it commands premium prices, especially when trafficked internationally from regions where it may be easier to obtain. Smuggling attempts often exploit air travel because of the volume of passengers and luggage, but enhanced profiling and intelligence sharing have helped officials intercept contraband before it reaches internal markets.

Drug enforcement officers highlight that the misuse of passenger flights for transporting narcotics creates complex legal and security challenges. Apart from the immediate criminal investigation, authorities must also coordinate with other national and international agencies to identify potential smuggling routes and networks. Efforts to tighten surveillance include advanced profiling of passengers, targeted baggage searches, and collaboration with airlines and security personnel to flag unusual patterns. The NDPS Act provisions allow for stringent penalties and are a key tool in prosecuting individuals involved in drug trafficking.

Local law enforcement sources confirm that seizures at major airports in India have risen this year. Mumbai and Delhi international airports have also recorded significant drug busts, with hydroponic marijuana and other narcotics worth crores in value intercepted during routine and intelligence-led checks on arriving international flights. Customs officials attribute part of this trend to increased accessibility of high-purity marijuana in some Southeast Asian regions, prompting organised networks to use commercial passenger flights for smuggling. They stress that continuous vigilance is necessary to stay ahead of evolving concealment techniques used by traffickers.

In the current case, authorities are hopeful that the arrest of the woman passenger will lead them to larger links in the distribution chain. Early questioning and forensic analysis of the seized marijuana could provide insights into its origin and intended destination. Meanwhile, airport security has reiterated that passengers should expect thorough screening and that attempts to hide contraband will face serious legal consequences. The incident also underscores the importance of cooperation between airport customs, intelligence units, and national agencies in safeguarding airports from becoming conduits for illegal drugs.

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