Pune Airport Customs Seize Hydroponic Marijuana Worth ₹26.8 Crore Hidden In ‘Food’ Shipment
Pune Airport Customs Seize Hydroponic Marijuana Worth ₹26.8 Crore Hidden In ‘Food’ Shipment
Pune, March 30, 2026: In a major crackdown, the Pune Customs Department has seized a large consignment of hydroponic marijuana valued at approximately ₹26.80 crore at Pune International Airport.
The seizure was carried out on March 26 at the Air Cargo Complex after officials intercepted an import shipment that had arrived from Thailand. According to customs authorities, the consignment was falsely declared as food items of Chinese origin, specifically labelled as “Mandarin orange sacs,” and packed in white thermocol boxes.
During routine scanning at the cargo facility, officials observed irregularities in the images, noting that the contents did not appear organic in nature. This raised suspicion, prompting officers to conduct a detailed physical inspection.
Upon opening one of the boxes, customs officials found sealed tin cans inside. Initially, the contents appeared to be a white, salt-like granular substance. However, upon closer examination, officers discovered vacuum-sealed transparent plastic packets concealed within the cans.
Further investigation revealed that the packets contained hydroponic marijuana (cannabis). Following this, the entire consignment was thoroughly examined, confirming the presence of the contraband.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to identify those involved in the smuggling operation and to trace the network behind the illegal import.
