54 arrests in 90 days: Thailand, Vietnam drug routes under scanner at Kolkata airport

As per officials, the quarter saw a rapid, month-over-month surge in both detections and intercepts. The trend began in April 2026 with 10 cases logged, resulting in 10 arrests of Indian nationals and the recovery of 37,811 grams (roughly 37.8 kg) of ganja.

By May, operations accelerated as cases more than doubled to 23, yielding 168,175 grams (around 168.2 kg) of seized contraband and leading to 19 arrests, of which18 were Indian nationals and 1 was a foreign national.

Enforcement reached its peak in June 2026 with 25 distinct cases registered, an interception of 190,759 grams (nearly 190.8 kg) of ganja, and the arrest of 25 Indian nationals. Across all three months, official preliminary financial valuations remained documented at zero pending formal market assessments.

Mode of smuggling

The illicit cargo was split across both checked luggage and hand baggage, officials said. Smugglers used sophisticated concealments to mask the contraband during transit and obscure it from standard X-ray screening or physical Customs checks, they added.

“We have uncovered ganja hidden inside commercial chocolate packets and wrapped sweet containers, built directly into the hollow inner side-walls and lining of trolley bags, packed in multi-layered plastic and vacuum-sealed airtight pouches, and layered between ordinary personal belongings,” said an official.

To defeat these complex concealment techniques, Customs officials said they rely on real-time actionable intelligence, scientific passenger profiling, advanced risk assessment matrices, and continuous physical surveillance.

Beyond analytical methods, teams at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport operate alongside eight dedicated, highly trained K-9 sniffer dog units on the floor, who play a major role in pinpointing hidden organic substances inside tightly sealed baggage.

As per officials, Kolkata Customs has expanded public prevention efforts by placing dedicated awareness standees throughout airport passenger areas. These displays educate travellers on the severe legal penalties surrounding drug trafficking, emphasise full compliance with narcotics laws, and underline the department’s firm stance on keeping international flight paths secure while encouraging travellers to share credible tips on illegal operations.