Pune, 13 January 2026: Customs Department has uncovered a massive international smuggling network after seizing narcotics and wildlife smuggled material worth more than ₹60 crore between April and December 2025.
The operation revealed that hydroponic cannabis was being brought from Bangkok to Pune in large quantities, making the city a new target for organised drug gangs.
During this nine-month period, customs officials intercepted 192.57 kilograms of narcotics, mainly hydroponic marijuana, valued at ₹43.63 crore. This marks a sharp rise from the same period in 2024, when 118 kilograms of drugs worth ₹11.21 crore were seized, showing how fast the illegal trade has expanded.
Along with drugs, Pune Customs also cracked down on wildlife and rare plant smuggling. Three major seizures at Pune Airport led to the recovery of illegal wildlife and flora worth ₹11.18 crore. Intelligence inputs helped officers stop attempts to move endangered species and rare medicinal plants into India through international flights.
Overall, Pune Customs recorded total seizures and penalties worth ₹60.65 crore during this period. The department also collected ₹3.46 crore in revenue and recovered ₹2.38 crore in fines in commercial fraud cases.
Customs Commissioner D. Anil said the seizures show how serious the threat of international smuggling has become and that strict action will continue against those violating Indian and global laws.
Additional Commissioner Rahul Gavande added that while drug trafficking has increased, gold smuggling has dropped sharply, with no gold seizures reported this month. He said customs teams are now actively monitoring both Pune Airport and sea ports to stop organised smuggling networks.