Surat: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials have arrested a passenger arriving from Bangkok with 14 kilograms of hydroponic cannabis, valued at around ₹14 crore in the Surat market. The accused has been identified as Ejaz, a resident of Rajasthan.

On Monday, DRI teams intercepted Ejaz after he landed at Surat airport on an Air India Express flight from Bangkok. Acting on a tip-off, officials kept watch on him and noticed suspicious behavior when he tried to leave the terminal in a hurry, abandoning his trolley. A search of his baggage led to the recovery of 14 kg of cannabis concealed inside.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the passenger had travelled on the same route multiple times in the past, raising suspicion that his earlier trips may also have been linked to drug trafficking. Officials are now probing to identify the intended recipients of the consignment and whether a wider network is involved.

CCTV footage from Surat airport is also being examined to trace his movements and possible accomplices. A senior DRI officer said the narcotics were carefully hidden inside checked-in baggage.

According to DRI sources, a new smuggling route has emerged on the Bangkok–Surat flight. The seized contraband—hydroponic cannabis cultivated in Thailand—is said to be less harmful but more potent than locally grown marijuana. It is popular among affluent youth and widely consumed in Bangkok’s nightlife hubs such as hookah bars.

Officials suspect that smugglers are exploiting the Surat-bound Bangkok flight—primarily used by tourists and the gem and jewellery trade community—to transport narcotics, given their higher resale value compared to local cannabis. DeshGujarat