Patna: Customs officials at Gaya International Airport have arrested five alleged international drug traffickers and seized more than 33kg of cannabis in a major operation targeting cross-border narcotics smuggling.
The seizure, carried out after intelligence inputs, led to the recovery of 33.35kg of cannabis with an estimated international market value of Rs11.67 crore, officials said.
According to the commissioner of customs (preventive), Patna, Dr Mohan Kumar Meena, the airport was placed on high alert following information about narcotics being smuggled into India from Thailand and Myanmar. Acting on the alert, customs officers screened passengers arriving on Thai AirAsia flight FD-122 from Bangkok.
During X-ray examination of checked-in baggage, officials detected suspicious images. A subsequent search led to the recovery of cannabis concealed inside toys packed in eight trolley suitcases belonging to five passengers.
The arrested individuals include three men and two women. All have been taken into custody under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and have been sent to judicial custody.
The operation was conducted by a team from Gaya Customs led by joint commissioner Navneet Kumar and assistant commissioner Arun Prasad. Officials said further investigation is under way to establish the gang’s modus operandi and identify other links in the international smuggling network.
Meena said surveillance and enforcement efforts had been intensified in line with the theme of International Customs Day 2026, which focuses on the role of customs authorities in protecting society through vigilance and commitment.
