Customs officers seized 2.96 kg of suspected hydroponic ganja valued at Rs 3 crore and arrested a passenger arriving from Kuala Lumpur.

The Air Intelligence Unit of Chennai Customs arrested a 48-year-old Indian passenger after officers allegedly found nearly three kilograms of hydroponic ganja in his baggage at Chennai International Airport.

The passenger arrived in Chennai from Kuala Lumpur on Friday and was reportedly using wheelchair assistance. Customs officers intercepted him based on passenger profiling as he proceeded toward the airport’s green channel.

The green channel is intended for arriving international passengers who do not have dutiable or prohibited goods to declare. According to Customs, the passenger attempted to leave through this channel without making any declaration about the contents of his baggage.

Officers stopped him for examination and conducted a detailed inspection of his luggage. Customs said the search led to the discovery of multiple airtight packets containing a substance identified as hydroponic ganja.

Customs officers reportedly recovered six transparent airtight packets from the passenger’s baggage. The contents had a total weight of 2,960 grams, or approximately 2.96 kilograms.

Authorities estimated the illicit-market value of the seized substance at Rs 3 crore. Such valuations are provided by enforcement agencies and may reflect the price the contraband is believed to command in illegal markets.

The material was seized by Customs, and the passenger was placed under arrest. Authorities have not publicly disclosed his name or additional personal information.

The available statement also did not specify where the packets were concealed within the baggage or whether officers had received advance intelligence about the passenger before his arrival.

Hydroponic cannabis is cultivated without conventional soil, generally in controlled indoor environments. Enforcement agencies often describe it as a high-value form of cannabis because of specialised cultivation techniques and its demand in illegal markets.

The seizure will likely lead investigators to examine the origin of the packets, their intended recipient and whether other individuals were involved in arranging the journey or transporting the baggage.

Travel records, telephone communications, financial transactions and airport surveillance footage may be reviewed as part of the investigation. Officials could also seek information about the passenger’s movements in Kuala Lumpur and any contacts he had before boarding the flight.

The use of wheelchair assistance does not itself indicate wrongdoing. The Customs interception was attributed to passenger profiling and the subsequent examination of the baggage, according to the official account.

The case highlights the role of Air Intelligence Unit officers in monitoring passengers arriving on international routes. Their responsibilities include detecting undeclared goods, narcotics, gold, foreign currency and other prohibited or restricted items.

Officers use passenger behaviour, travel history, routing patterns, intelligence inputs and baggage examination to identify travellers for additional checks. Passengers using the green channel may still be stopped when authorities believe further inspection is required.

The seizure also underscores the continuing challenge of preventing illegal drugs from entering India through commercial aviation routes. International airports process large numbers of passengers and bags every day, requiring enforcement teams to balance security screening with the rapid movement of legitimate travellers. Further investigation is expected to determine whether the arrested passenger acted independently or was allegedly working for a larger trafficking network. The allegations remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings.