Customs intercepts three with drones, parts worth Rs 1.03 crore at IGI Airport
Customs officers at IGI Airport have booked three Indian passengers for smuggling drones and drone parts worth Rs 1,03,55,900, after intercepting them at Terminal-3 following their arrival from Hong Kong via Vietnam on September 25, 2026.
The passengers arrived on Flight No. VN593 dated September 25, 2026, from Hong Kong to Vietnam, and Flight No. VN981 dated September 25, 2026, from Vietnam to Delhi. During customs proceedings, the passengers were intercepted and subjected to a baggage search.
The search led to recovery of ten Autel Robotics MDX-1 drones, eleven remote controllers for Autel Robotics MDX-1 drones, ten AC/DC adaptors, ten USB chargers, twenty data cables, ten remote controller lanyards, sixty propellers, ten gimbals with payload cameras, twenty remote controller antennas, ten power cables for Autel Robotics MDX-1 drones, ten remote controller stands, forty remote controller joysticks, one Autel ESC PCBA used, four plastic arms, and one used iPhone 18 Pro Max with 512 GB storage.
A chartered engineer called upon by customs officers reported that the drones are professional-grade, fitted with thermal imaging and laser range-finder capabilities, classifying them as military or defence-grade Unmanned Aerial Vehicles that require mandatory DGCA registration for each drone. The total market value of the recovered items was assessed at Rs 1,03,55,900.
The recovered drones, parts and the iPhone were seized under Section 110(1) of the Customs Act, 1962, in the presence of independent witnesses, vide detention receipts numbered 67050 dated September 26, 2026, 67051 dated September 26, 2026, 67052 dated September 26, 2026 and 67053 dated September 26, 2026.
According to customs officials, the passenger stated that the drones and parts had been brought by him from Hong Kong for one of his friends, who is the real owner of the goods, and that he had intentionally smuggled the drones into India without declaring them before customs authorities and without payment of applicable customs duty. Further investigation into the matter is under process, according to a press release issued by Shankar Prasad Sarma, Additional Commissioner of Customs, IGI Airport, New Delhi, on September 27, 2026.
