Lucknow: In a major operation, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 12.7 kg of high-quality hydroponic cannabis worth nearly ₹13 crore at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport on Monday. Three Indian nationals—including two women—arriving from Thailand were arrested in connection with the seizure.
According to officials, DRI Lucknow had received a tip-off that passengers on AirAsia Flight FD-146 from Bangkok, scheduled to land at 10:35 pm, were attempting to smuggle narcotics into the city. Acting swiftly on the intelligence, DRI teams deployed at the airport identified one male and two female passengers as suspects and detained them for questioning.
A search of their check-in baggage led to the recovery of multiple vacuum-sealed packets. Field testing confirmed the green substance inside as hydroponic cannabis—a highly potent variant cultivated using nutrient-rich water and controlled environmental conditions instead of traditional soil-based farming. Its superior potency makes it significantly more expensive in the international drug market.
The trio has been arrested under relevant sections of the NDPS Act. Officials noted that this is part of a rising trend, with more than 75 kg of narcotics valued at over ₹70 crore seized from Lucknow Airport in the past six months alone.
