Mumbai Customs Seize Hydroponic Weed Worth Rs 16.75 Crore at CSMI Airport, 8 Arrested

The Airport Commissionerate of Mumbai Customs Zone–III has reported major seizures at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport during operations conducted between January 4 and February 11, 2026. During this period, officials confiscated narcotics, gold, diamonds and foreign currency collectively worth several crores and arrested eight passengers in connection with the cases.

According to Customs officials, a total of 16.756 kg of suspected hydroponic weed, estimated to be worth ₹16.756 crore in the illicit market, was seized in multiple operations. The accused passengers were arrested under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

Seven cases of hydroponic weed were detected based on spot checks and Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) profiling. In these cases, 13.256 kg of the suspected narcotic substance valued at approximately ₹13.256 crore was recovered from seven passengers who had arrived from Bangkok. All were taken into custody.

In a separate gold smuggling case, Customs officers recovered 104 grams of 24KT gold valued at ₹15.24 lakh from a passenger. In another instance, 246.75 carats of natural and lab-grown diamonds worth ₹38.28 lakh were seized.

Customs officials also registered three cases involving illegal possession of foreign currency, resulting in the recovery of currency equivalent to ₹69.78 lakh from three passengers.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs, officers detected an additional case involving 3.5 kg of suspected hydroponic weed valued at approximately ₹3.5 crore. The contraband was recovered from passengers who had arrived from Bangkok, and arrests were made under the NDPS Act.

In another intelligence-based operation, foreign currency equivalent to ₹43.25 lakh was seized from a passenger.

Overall, during the enforcement drive, Customs officials seized suspected hydroponic weed worth ₹16.756 crore, diamonds valued at ₹38.28 lakh, gold worth ₹15.24 lakh and foreign currency equivalent to ₹1.13 crore. Investigations into the cases are currently underway.