Rs 3 Cr Hydroponic Weed Seized at Bhubaneswar Airport | Kerala Youth Nabbed After Bangkok Flight

In a major crackdown on international drug trafficking, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 3.2 kg of premium-grade hydroponic marijuana valued at Rs 3 crore at Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar, on Saturday.

The accused, a youth from Kerala, was intercepted upon arrival from Bangkok. Officials discovered the contraband concealed in his luggage during routine screening.

Preliminary interrogation revealed plans to transport the narcotics by road to Kerala for distribution.

This marks the third high-profile seizure at the airport in 2025, underscoring Bhubaneswar’s emerging role as a transit hub for narcotics smuggling.

Earlier cases this year involved 50 kg of hydroponic weed seized from Uttar Pradesh residents in July and Rs 7 crore worth of marijuana confiscated from another Kerala native in January.

The DRI has intensified surveillance at international gateways, aiming to dismantle cross-border drug syndicates. Investigations into the accused’s network are ongoing, with further arrests likely.