Major Drug Bust at Varanasi Airport: Six Arrested for Smuggling Hydroponic Cannabis

Significant Drug Seizure at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport

Customs officials at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi have achieved a significant breakthrough in combating drug trafficking. During routine checks at the airport, authorities seized over ₹19 crore worth of high-potency hydroponic cannabis. Six Thai nationals, comprising three men and three women, have been apprehended in connection with this case. Customs and police officials disclosed details of this international drug smuggling operation on Monday.

Details of the Arrest

According to customs and police reports, the suspects were detained on Saturday after arriving on an Air India Express flight from Bangkok. During a routine inspection, their trolley bags were searched due to suspicious behavior, leading to the discovery of 19.7 kilograms of cannabis concealed in plastic packets.

The seized substance is identified as hydroponic cannabis, a high-potency strain cultivated in a nutrient-rich water-based system instead of soil. During interrogation, the suspects admitted to previously smuggling drugs via the Kolkata-Gaya route. Investigators are also looking into the involvement of another Thai woman in the operation.

Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Investigation

All six suspects have been presented before a magistrate and, following legal formalities, have been remanded to judicial custody. Authorities are continuing their investigation to uncover the larger network involved in this smuggling operation.