A 28-year-old woman, a model by profession, who also participated in the Mrs Kerala Beauty Pageant 2025, has been arrested by customs officials at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport after she allegedly tried to smuggle high-grade hydroponic cannabis valued at close to Rs 11.82 crore into the country from Thailand.

The accused woman, identified as Harsha Sunny, was intercepted by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) sleuths of Mumbai Customs upon her Mumbai touchdown from Bangkok on Thai Airways flight TG-351 on the intervening night of June 10 and 11, 2026.

Officials seize 12 packets concealed in bag

As per customs authorities, Harsha fell under suspicion during routine surveillance operations at the airport. Acting on specific observations, the officers carried out a detailed inspection of her baggage.

During the search, officials allegedly discovered 12 vacuum-sealed packets concealed inside a trolley bag. Upon opening them, authorities found a green-coloured substance suspected to be narcotics. The seized was then subjected to preliminary testing by means of a field test kit under the provisions of the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The substance was identified as cannabis in the form of dried flowering and fruiting tops, commonly known as hydroponic weed or high-grade cannabis.

Officials estimated its value to be close to Rs 11.82 crore in the illicit drug market, making it one of the major drug hauls at the Mumbai Airport.

Accused denies bag’s ownership

During interrogation, Harsha allegedly denied ownership of the trolley bag from which the narcotics were recovered. The investigators said she claimed to have met a fellow passenger during the journey, who had handed over the bag to her temporarily and disappeared abruptly. However, the customs officials are treating the explanation with caution and are examining the circumstances surrounding her claims.

Authorities also suspect the claim may have been made in an attempt to distance herself from the seized contraband, though the case is still under probe.

Harsha sent to police custody

Following the seizure, the officials arrested Harsha under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act. She was subsequently produced before a court on June 11, which remanded her to police custody for further interrogation.

The officials are now sifting through her call records, communication history and financial transactions to determine whether she had links to a larger international drug trafficking syndicate. They are also persevering in efforts to trace the origin of the seized narcotics and identify other people who may have been involved in the alleged smuggling operation.