Hydroponic Marijuana Worth Rs 6.12 Crore Seized at Pune Airport; Passenger Arrested
Pune, 8th August 2025: In a major drug bust, officers from the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) at Pune International Airport seized over 6 kg of hydroponic marijuana, also known as hydro weed, from a passenger arriving from Bangkok. The seized narcotics are estimated to be worth ₹6.12 crore in the international illicit market.
The passenger, identified as Atul Sushil Hiwale, was intercepted on the basis of profiling and suspicious behavior after disembarking from Air India Express Flight IX-241 on August 5, 2025. A detailed search led to the recovery of 6,119.15 grams of the high-grade contraband concealed inside a check-in trolley bag.
The AIU officials immediately booked a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The accused has been arrested and was produced before a magistrate, who remanded him to judicial custody.
Authorities have initiated a deeper probe to ascertain the source and destination network of the seized drugs, suggesting possible links to international smuggling syndicates.
