Pune: The Air Intelligence Unit of the Pune Customs on Thursday seized 76.6kg of hydroponic weed worth Rs26.8 crore from a cargo consignment coming into the city from Thailand, officers told TOI.They said it was not only the biggest recovery of the contraband, but the first time it was found in the cargo consignment.A senior Customs officer told TOI: “International cargo is mainly exported to places like Dubai and Abu Dhabi from Pune, but items do get imported too. In the said case, the consignment was declared as Mandarin Orange Sacs, which is food itemsof Chinese origin. It had come from Thailand on an Air India Express flight and was packed in white thermocol boxes. The recipient has been arrested. Interrogations and investigations are underway.“The officer said the consignment was scanned and images of the goods did not appear to be organic in nature. The officers present opened a box which had sealed tins cans.They found salt-like white grainy powder inside the tin cans. Vacuum-sealed transparent plastic packs containing hydroponic weed or marijuana were found inside.Another Customs officer said that considering the large number of seizures of hydroponic weed at Pune airport since last year, the department may soon get to the bottom of the racket with the arrest of the recipient of the consignment.“More details cannot be divulged at the moment. However, the recovery of such a huge quantity of marijuana raises several questions, including whether the contraband was meant to be distributed in Pune and its suburbs or all across the state. It also puts the spotlight on the demand in Pune, home to a substantial number of students and young working professionals,” he said, adding that the department was also probing why the prohibited items were sent via cargo.The officer further said, “It shows the different ways smugglers are brazenly trying to bring in contraband.”Sources said it was possible that people involved were unaware of the strict checks of all consignments at the integrated cargo terminal. “They may have taken a chance,” the officer added.Hydroponic weed is reportedly purer than regular marijuana and is grown carefully in controlled temperature. In 2025, the Pune Customs intercepted around 12 cases of attempted smuggling of the weed at the Pune airport and arrested 12 people. This year, there have been over three cases already leading to the recovery of 8kg of hydroponic weed worth Rs8.7 crore in March.
