Hydroponic Weed Smuggling Surges at Mumbai Airport, Customs Raises Alarm

• Mumbai Customs reports hydroponic weed smuggling as a major menace at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in 2025-26.
• Between April 2025 and January 2026, 200 cases of hydroponic weed smuggling were registered, seizing over 1,101 kg of cannabis.
• Overall NDPS cases sharply rose, with 207 cases until January 2026 compared to 57 in the previous year.
• Drug syndicates use 'mules' including families, senior citizens, and women, often recruited from Bangkok, to carry drugs.
• Traffickers employ various concealment methods, including ingesting capsules, and use fake diplomatic pouches for smuggling.