Passenger arrested with 19.5 kg of hydroponic weed at Delhi airport

Customs officials at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport Delhi have seized 19.5 kg of suspected hydroponic weed from a passenger coming from Bangkok and arrested him under the NDPS Act, officials said on Friday.

Hydroponic weed is a high-potency variety of cannabis grown in nutrient-rich water instead of soil.

The passenger, who arrived on July 22, was intercepted by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) after crossing the customs green channel based on advance passenger information system (APIS) profiling, an official statement said.

“On X-ray screening of (the passenger’s) baggage, some suspicious images were noticed,” the statement said.

Subsequent examination of the baggage led to the recovery of five vacuum-sealed packets containing a green-coloured substance suspected to be hydroponic weed (ganja).

Customs, IGI Airport Date: 22.07.2026
Operation: AIU, IGI Airport, New Delhi
Seizure: 10,595 grams Hydroponic weed (Ganja)

The customs officers of IGI airport, New Delhi, have booked a case of smuggling green colour NDPS substance suspected ganja/marijuana. On the basis of APIS… pic.twitter.com/whH4HCSU62

— Delhi Customs (Airport & General) (@AirportGenCus) July 24, 2026

According to the statement, “five vacuum-sealed packets containing a green-coloured substance, suspected to be hydroponic weed (ganja), having a total weight of 19,595 grams (including packing material)” were recovered from the passenger’s baggage.

Also Read: Hydroponic marijuana a growing concern for Delhi Police

The passenger was arrested under Section 43(b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

The “green colour substance suspected to be ganja/marijuana has been seized along with concealing material and packaging under Section 43(a) of the NDPS Act, 1985,” the statement said.