Customs seizes Rs 13.44 lakh cannabis extract hidden in shoe soles at Pune airport

Pune, October 29, 2026: Customs officers at Pune airport have seized 381.27 grams of suspected cannabis extract from an Indian passenger who arrived from Bangkok. The consignment is valued at Rs 13.44 lakh. According to officials, it was hidden in specially made cavities in the soles of his sports shoes. The passenger reached Pune from Bangkok on October 27.

According to Pune Customs, the passenger landed at Pune International Airport at Lohegaon on Air India Express flight IX-291. Officers of the Air Intelligence Unit stopped him and began an inspection on the basis of intelligence received and passenger profiling.

The officers first searched his cabin bag and checked baggage but found no prohibited items. They remained suspicious, however, because the black sports shoes he was wearing had unusually thick soles and seemed heavier than ordinary shoes.

When the inner soles of both shoes were cut open, specially made hollow spaces were found. These held packets wrapped in black cloth and sealed with red adhesive tape. Inside the packets was a dark brown-black, semi-solid, wax-like substance. A field test returned positive for cannabis extract. It is suspected to be an extract of hashish or marijuana.

The goods were seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The passenger was arrested and produced before a judicial magistrate, who sent him to judicial custody until November 7.

Further investigation into the case is continuing.