Customs officials at Biju Patnaik International Airport have once again dealt a significant blow to international drug trafficking, seizing approximately 8.5 kg of marijuana (ganja) from a flight arriving from Bangkok. Three individuals from outside Odisha have been detained in connection with the case.
The contraband was discovered during routine luggage screening of passengers arriving from Thailand. Customs officers, acting on suspicion, thoroughly checked several bags and recovered the narcotics carefully concealed inside. Preliminary estimates put the street value of the seized marijuana at around ₹3 crore.
The three arrested suspects are being interrogated to uncover the wider trafficking network and the intended destination of the consignment. Authorities have intensified surveillance at the airport and are probing possible involvement of additional persons.
This latest interception underscores a troubling pattern. Bhubaneswar airport has repeatedly emerged as a transit point for hydroponic marijuana smuggled from Bangkok. Just days earlier, on 17 October 2026, officials seized 5.291 kg of hydroponic marijuana—valued at roughly ₹1.85 crore—from four passengers. Much of it was hidden in secret compartments of checked bags, while 414 grams was found inside a “dog food” can. A K-9 sniffer dog named Rubel assisted in the detection. That haul marked the 13th such seizure since January 2025.
Earlier this year, similar operations yielded even larger quantities:
- July 2026: About 11 kg of hydroponic marijuana (value ~₹5 crore) from two passengers, concealed among food items.
- May 2026: Nearly 11 kg from two Tamil Nadu residents (value ₹3.5–4 crore).
- March 2026: 5.5 kg of hydroponic ganja from two Tamil Nadu passengers (value over ₹3 crore).
- January 2026: Around 8 kg (value ₹7.5–8 crore), leading to the arrest of a Mumbai passenger and a recipient.
Customs and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have ramped up vigilance in response to these repeated attempts. Officials note that sophisticated concealment methods continue to be employed, yet enhanced screening and canine units are yielding results.
While detailed official statements on the latest 8.5 kg seizure remain limited as investigations continue, the successive busts send a clear message: Bhubaneswar’s international airport is no longer an easy gateway for narcotics traffickers.
Further updates are expected as the probe progresses.
