After Gold and Diamond Smuggling, Drug Trafficking Emerges as New Threat at Surat Airport
In a major crackdown that highlights the growing menace of international drug trafficking through Indian airports, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested a youth from Rajasthan at Surat Airport with ₹14 crore worth of hydroponic marijuana. The accused had arrived via a flight from Bangkok and was attempting to exit the airport with the contraband concealed in his baggage. This seizure marks a dangerous shift in smuggling trends at Surat Airport, which has recently witnessed several gold and diamond smuggling incidents.
According to officials, the DRI team had received a tip-off about a suspicious passenger arriving from Bangkok. Based on this intelligence input, officials were strategically deployed at the airport to track the individual. As the suspect, identified as Ejaz from Rajasthan, landed in Surat and began moving swiftly through the terminal with a trolley bag, officials discreetly followed his movements. Upon intercepting him near the exit, customs and DRI officials conducted a thorough examination of his luggage.
What they discovered sent shockwaves through the security agencies — a stash of 14 kilograms of hydroponic marijuana, also known as “English ganja,” was neatly packed inside the bag. The international market value of the seized contraband was estimated at around ₹14 crore, making it one of the most significant narcotics hauls in Surat’s recent history.
Hydroponic marijuana is a potent, genetically modified variant of cannabis, grown using nutrient-rich water instead of soil, often indoors. It has gained popularity in elite social circuits and high-end nightclubs across major cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Jaipur due to its intense psychoactive effects.
Initial interrogation revealed chilling details about the modus operandi of the smugglers. The accused claimed it was his first assignment and that he was given very little information about the operation. As per his statement, his only instruction was to exit the airport and board a specific “black car” that would be waiting for him on the main road. He insisted he did not know the identity of the driver, the final destination, or any further links in the smuggling chain.
This revelation has raised red flags among investigating agencies, as it suggests the use of courier-style operatives who are deliberately kept unaware of the full structure of the drug network. By isolating individual smugglers from the larger organization, the masterminds behind these operations seek to minimize exposure and avoid detection.
The DRI is now focused on identifying the mysterious black car and tracing its owner. CCTV footage, mobile phone tracking, and vehicle registration data are being analyzed to build leads. Officials suspect the involvement of a broader international racket operating from Bangkok, which serves as a major hub for drug trafficking into South and Southeast Asia.
Further investigation indicates that the hydroponic marijuana smuggled into India is often routed through high-traffic international airports and distributed to urban nightlife destinations. Security sources claim that several affluent youth from prominent business families are frequent consumers of such designer drugs. The situation is especially concerning as the demand for these high-end narcotics continues to rise in both India and Thailand, driven by club culture and easy access to international supply chains.
This case has underscored a growing trend that is deeply worrying for Indian authorities — the transition from precious metal and gem smuggling to high-value narcotics. Drug enforcement agencies believe that smugglers are leveraging lesser-known airports like Surat to avoid tighter security protocols implemented in metros such as Mumbai and Delhi.
Officials have also pointed out the need for more advanced surveillance technology and AI-assisted profiling at regional airports, which are now increasingly being targeted by smuggling syndicates. The use of human intelligence networks, combined with strategic international cooperation, will be essential to combat this rising threat.
As of now, the DRI has tightened surveillance at Surat Airport and is coordinating with national and international agencies to dismantle the larger network responsible for this smuggling attempt. The arrested individual is being interrogated further to uncover more details, while law enforcement is actively pursuing leads that could help crack the nexus.
This incident has once again brought into sharp focus the vulnerability of India’s growing airport infrastructure to international criminal networks. It also serves as a stark reminder of the challenges law enforcement faces in preventing the youth from falling prey to such dangerous and lucrative networks.
