Customs officials at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport have seized 10 military-grade drones valued at more than Rs 1.03 crore from three Indian passengers who arrived from Hong Kong via Vietnam. The interception took place at Terminal-3 on September 25 after customs officers acted on specific intelligence while the passengers were attempting to cross the green channel.

A detailed examination of the passengers’ baggage led to the recovery of the drones along with their complete accessories, including controllers, gimbals fitted with cameras, propellers, cables and joysticks. According to officials, a Chartered Engineer’s assessment confirmed that the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were professional-grade systems equipped with thermal imaging and laser range-finding technology, placing them in the military or defence-grade category.

Authorities stated that such high-end drones require mandatory registration with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) before they can be legally operated in India. The seized equipment has been taken into custody, and further investigation is underway to determine the purpose of the import and whether any provisions of customs or aviation laws were violated.