A customs department at an airport in India seized a record-breaking amount of contraband in 2025, raising alarm bells about the criminal syndicates responsible for the illegal items.

What's happening?

Pune Airport uncovered a massive smuggling network after seizing narcotics and wildlife material worth 112 million Indian rupees, or approximately $1.24 million, from April to December, according to The Bridge Chronicle.

Officials discovered that hydroponic marijuana was being smuggled from Bangkok to Pune, making it a new target for organized drug crime. A record 192.57 kilograms (424.5 pounds) of narcotics, mainly marijuana, were seized.

The other major find was illegally traded endangered wildlife and rare medicinal plants, which were stopped from entering the country. Authorities received intelligence tips that helped them stop their movement.

Why is drug and wildlife smuggling important?

Smuggling wildlife and plants is a dangerous business for a variety of reasons. It disrupts habitats and impacts biodiversity both at their point of origin as well as the destination for the illegally obtained materials. 

Many invasive species, like pythons in Florida, started off as part of the exotic pet trade, which has dubious rules and regulations. Invasive species can wreak havoc on their new environment, outcompeting native species for resources and potentially introducing diseases and parasites that can spread unchecked. 

Wildlife smugglers are also frequently involved in other criminal activities, like drug, weapons, and human trafficking, according to Scientific American. 

"We're seeing criminal networks around the world being more adaptable and interconnected and almost commodity-agnostic," Michelle Anagnostou, a University of Oxford researcher of illegal wildlife trade, told the outlet while speaking about their research in the Journal of Economic Criminology.

These criminal activities hurt communities by imposing them on people and encouraging them to engage in illegal trade with the promise of quick money.

What's being done about drug and wildlife smuggling?

Additional Commissioner Rahul Gavande told the Chronicle that customs teams are actively monitoring Pune Airport and the city's seaports to stop illegal smuggling.

People can also help by avoiding contributing to the exotic pet trade and reporting suspected illegal activity to the proper authorities. 

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