New Delhi

Customs officials at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport have seized 15.93 kg of suspected hydroponic cannabis, estimated to be worth around Rs 5.56 crore in the illegal market, and arrested two Indian nationals who had arrived from Bangkok.

According to an official statement issued on Tuesday, the seizure was made after customs officers detected suspicious images while scanning the passengers' baggage through X-ray machines. A detailed inspection of their luggage resulted in the recovery of nine packets containing a green-coloured substance suspected to be hydroponic marijuana.

Officials said seven packets were concealed inside a black trolley suitcase, while the remaining two were hidden in a brown backpack.

The recovered substance weighed 15.93 kg. Preliminary testing conducted by customs authorities indicated that it was ganja (marijuana), believed to be hydroponically cultivated.

The contraband has an estimated black-market value of approximately Rs 5.56 crore.

The narcotic substance, along with the packaging material, was seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Both passengers have been arrested, and further investigation is underway to determine the source and intended destination of the consignment.

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Hydroponic cannabis is a premium, high-potency form of marijuana grown using nutrient-rich water-based cultivation methods instead of conventional soil, making it significantly more expensive in the illicit drug market.