The Customs officials at Biju Patnaik International Airport seized hydroponic marijuana valued at more than Rs 30 crore from three passengers arriving from Bangkok.
The contraband, concealed in six suitcases, was intercepted during routine baggage checks.
Sources within the Customs Department confirmed the marijuana was cultivated using the hydroponic method — a high-tech soil-less technique — making it both potent and highly marketable. Officials estimate the street value of the drug at over Rs 1 crore per kilogram.
The detained individuals are currently being interrogated to trace the origin and destination of the narcotics consignment. Preliminary findings suggest the possibility of a broader international smuggling network operating through Odisha.
“This is one of the largest drug seizures at the Bhubaneswar airport in recent years,” stated an official involved in the operation.
As investigations deepen, authorities are exploring potential links to organised trafficking routes, and increased surveillance measures have been proposed to curb such inflows.
