Customs officials at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport have seized 10 high-end drones from three Indian passengers who arrived from Hong Kong via Vietnam.
The passengers were intercepted at Terminal 3 on September 25 while passing through the Green Channel. Acting on intelligence inputs, customs personnel searched their baggage and recovered the drones along with controllers, camera gimbals, cables, propellers and other equipment.
The seized equipment has been valued at more than Rs 1 crore. A Chartered Engineer who examined the drones assessed them as professional-grade unmanned aerial vehicles fitted with advanced features, including thermal imaging and laser range-finding technology.
Based on their specifications and capabilities, the drones were described by officials as military- or defence-grade equipment. Authorities also noted that the drones fall under equipment requiring registration with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
An iPhone 18 Pro Max was also recovered during the baggage search. The total value of the seized items was estimated at around Rs 1.03 crore.
The three passengers were apprehended and the drones and related equipment were seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.
Investigators are now examining the circumstances surrounding the import of the drones, including their documentation, regulatory status and intended use. The identities of the passengers and further details of the investigation have not been disclosed by the authorities.
