New Delhi, March 19 In a significant operation, officers of the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU), Mumbai Customs Zone–III, intercepted multiple drug smuggling attempts at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA).
Using intelligence developed through the Advance Passenger Information system (APIS) and Spot Profiling, AIU officers identified and intercepted four passengers arriving from Bangkok. Their alertness and timely intervention led to the detection of four cases involving the smuggling of suspected hydroponic cannabis on March 17, 2026, an official statement said on Thursday.
A thorough examination resulted in the recovery of approximately 64.394 kg of the contraband, with an estimated illicit market value of Rs 64.394 crore.
Among those apprehended, one was a foreign national, indicating a new modus operandi of involving foreign nationals to carry large quantities, it said.
All 4 individuals have been placed under arrest in accordance with the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, it said.
Notably, during the financial year 2025–26 up to March 18, 2026, the Airport Commissionerate at CSMIA has seized over 1,330 kilograms of hydroponic cannabis across 244 cases, resulting in the arrest of 286 individuals, it said.
This reflects sustained enforcement efforts and reinforces the department's zero-tolerance approach toward drug smuggling, it said.