Shark Fins and Drugs Busted at Chennai Airport

In a series of high-profile busts at Chennai International Airport, Customs authorities seized shark fins and banned narcotics over the past week, leading to the arrest of multiple passengers bound for international destinations. The crackdown, detailed in a press release by Customs Joint Commissioner Sadeesh Kumar K on Friday, August 22, 2025, underscores intensified vigilance at the airport.

On August 17, officials intercepted two men headed to Singapore, recovering 11.6 kg of shark fins from their possession. The passengers confessed during interrogation that they were recruited by an individual offering monetary rewards to smuggle the contraband. Shark fin exports are banned under India’s Foreign Trade Policy, and the haul was seized under the Customs Act, 1962, with the suspects detained for further investigation.

In separate incidents on August 21, Customs officials nabbed two passengers arriving from Bangkok with significant quantities of hydroponic ganja. The first passenger’s baggage yielded 7,826 grams of the narcotic, concealed in vacuum packets, while the second had 3,966 grams hidden in a suitcase’s false compartment. Both confessed to their crimes, and the ganja was seized under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. The duo was remanded to judicial custody, marking a stern response to drug trafficking attempts.

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These seizures highlight the ongoing battle against illegal wildlife trade and drug smuggling at Chennai’s airport. Authorities are probing potential networks behind these operations, as the arrests raise questions about the scale of such illicit activities. The Customs department’s swift action sends a strong message to would-be smugglers, with further investigations underway to uncover the masterminds behind these illegal ventures.

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