Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport became the scene of a high-stakes drug bust on Sunday, where customs officers intercepted a massive shipment of premium hybrid marijuana valued at Rs 12.5 crore. Four travelers from a Bangkok flight were detained, exposing what officials describe as a sophisticated international trafficking network.
Intelligence inputs flagged a possible influx of narcotics from Southeast Asia, prompting intensified checks on incoming passengers. During the scrutiny, concealed packets of the potent drug were discovered in the baggage of the suspects—one from Vadodara and three Punjab natives.
Unlike common ganja, hybrid marijuana boasts superior potency and fetches premium prices, making it a favorite among smugglers despite a total ban in India. The street value of the confiscated batch stands at Rs 12.5 crore.
Interrogations reveal plans to supply the contraband to urban markets with growing appetite for such substances. Investigators are dissecting the accused’s financial trails, travel histories, and overseas connections to map out the syndicate. Forensic tests on the drugs are underway, alongside coordination with central agencies.
This latest coup follows closely on the heels of other successes at the airport: a Rs 8 crore hydroponic haul earlier this month and a 3.9 kg seizure from Bangkok. Airport authorities are ramping up surveillance and intel ops to thwart escalating aerial smuggling threats.