Officials believe that the quantity and frequency of seizures indicate the growing customer base in the city.
| Photo Credit: X/@blrcustoms
Customs officers at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) have seized more than 67 kg of hydroponic ganja in multiple operations over the past ten days, exposing repeated attempts to smuggle contraband to the city.
The seizures, all made at Terminal 2 between November 17 and November 27, involved passengers arriving primarily from Bangkok, Thailand, with one case linked to Hat Yai, Thailand. All passengers were detained under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
The first major seizure unfolded on November 17, when officers intercepted a passenger from Bangkok carrying 3.83 kg of hydroponic ganja valued at ₹1.34 crore. This was followed by a daily pattern of interceptions, with some cases involving more than one passenger.
November 18 saw a surge, with four separate cases of hydroponic ganja smuggling intercepted at T2. The quantities ranged from 4 kg to nearly 8 kg per passenger, amounting to over 23 kg in a single day. Another passenger arriving from Hat Yai was caught with 4 kg, valued at ₹1.4 crore.
On November 19, Customs intercepted three more passengers carrying a combined 13.36 kg of the contraband. The trend continued through the week, with a seizure of 6.43 kg on November 22 and 5 kg on November 26.
The largest single-day haul occurred on November 27, when three passengers from Bangkok were caught carrying 15.72 kg of hydroponic ganja worth ₹5.5 crore.
Growing customer base in city
Officials believe that the quantity and frequency of seizures indicate the growing customer base in the city. While narcotics dominated enforcement action over the past ten days, Bengaluru Customs also reported two major wildlife trafficking attempts: the seizure of five wild animals brought in from Bangkok and 280 wildlife species smuggled via a courier consignment from Vietnam.
Both were in violation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Customs officials have increased profiling, surveillance, and intelligence-based interceptions at the airport.
Published – November 28, 2025 02:43 pm IST
