Business · India Bureau
Delhi Customs destroys 165 kg of contraband drugs valued at ₹515 crore
Delhi Customs conducted an incineration of 165 kilograms of seized narcotics at a designated facility, marking a significant enforcement action against drug trafficking. The destruction comes as the airport authority reported a sharp spike in narcotics seizures during the first half of the financial year.
LSN India ·
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) oversaw the destruction of the confiscated drugs at an authorized incineration facility in Delhi. The seized contraband, valued at approximately ₹515 crore in the illicit market, represented various narcotics that had been intercepted by customs officials at points of entry.
During the first six months of the 2025-26 financial year—April through September 2026—Delhi Customs recorded 89 separate cases involving drug seizures at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The elevated number of cases underscores the persistent challenges posed by international drug smuggling networks attempting to exploit air cargo and passenger channels into India.
Customs officials stated that narcotics continue to be smuggled into the country through multiple routes, with international airports remaining a critical interception point. The seizures encompassed various controlled substances, reflecting the diversity of trafficking patterns observed at the nation's busiest aviation hub.
The destruction of contraband narcotics follows established legal protocols to prevent seized drugs from re-entering illicit markets. Officials indicated that enhanced screening measures and intelligence-led operations remain central to customs enforcement strategy at Delhi airport.