IGI Airport has become a hub for drug traffickers !!!
IGI Airport has become a hub for drug traffickers, with drugs worth ₹133 crore seized in a year; the Bangkok route is a major headache.
Delhi’s IGI Airport has become a hub for drug smugglers. Drugs worth ₹133 crore have been seized in a single year. The Bangkok route is the biggest destination for smugglers …..
- Drugs worth Rs 133 crore seized at IGI Airport in one year
- The Bangkok route has become a major headache for drug traffickers.
- Security and screening procedures have been increased at the airport.
New Delhi. For the past year, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport has been a cat-and-mouse game between drug smugglers and the Customs Department. Since December 2024, Delhi Customs has foiled dozens of smuggling attempts and seized drugs worth crores of rupees.
In operations conducted since December 2024, Customs has seized drugs worth over ₹1.3 billion (approximately $1.3 billion), with a market value of over ₹1.3 billion (approximately $1.3 billion). More than 25 Indian and foreign nationals have been arrested. The data clearly indicates an unprecedented increase in drug trafficking cases from Bangkok in 2025, which has alarmed security agencies.
| date | Seizures (weight) | approximate price | Passenger (route) |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 15, 2025 | 48.01 kg of ganja | 48 crore rupees | 6 passengers (from Bangkok) |
| December 6, 2025 | 13.12 kg of cannabis | 10.5 crore rupees | 1 passenger (from Bangkok) |
| December 6, 2025 | 4.08 kg of cannabis | 4.08 crore rupees | 1 passenger (from Bangkok) |
| October 30, 2025 | 11.92 kg of cannabis | 11.92 crore rupees | 1 passenger (from Bangkok) |
| October 24, 2025 | 7.21 kg of cannabis | 7.21 crore rupees | 2 passengers (from Bangkok) |
| August 2025 | 24.81 kg of cannabis | 24.8 crore rupees | 1 passenger (from Bangkok) |
| December 2024 | 156 cocaine capsules | 27 crore rupees | 2 foreigners (from the Philippines) |
Smuggling on Bangkok route increased in the last one year
During the year 2025, it was observed that the largest consignment of confiscated narcotics, especially hydroponic marijuana, was coming to India from Bangkok (Thailand). This year, the largest quantity of contraband was smuggled from Bangkok to the capital Delhi and Mumbai.
The Customs and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is now investigating the serious possibility of foreign drug traffickers conspiring to use Delhi as a transit hub. The main focus of the investigation is to determine whether the drugs are destined exclusively for Delhi-NCR or are being shipped from here to other countries or states.
This is a major concern for investigative agencies. According to statistics, over 90 percent of marijuana consignments seized in the past year have originated in Bangkok. Since the legalization of marijuana in Thailand, international smugglers have been using Indian youth as couriers.
Syndicate busted and strict surveillance
The recent arrest of six passengers has made it clear that smugglers are now operating as a large syndicate. According to customs officials, passengers and their luggage on flights arriving from Bangkok are being checked with state-of-the-art X-ray machines. All those arrested have been booked under various sections of the NDPS Act and sent to jail.
The Anti-Narcotics Bureau is investigating the masterminds behind receiving these consignments in India. The Customs Department says security and surveillance at IGI Airport have been further tightened to thwart the plans of drug smugglers.
