CHENNAI: Customs officials at the Chennai international airport seized drone components capable of assembling around 10 drones, along with a large quantity of prohibited e-cigarettes, from a passenger who arrived from Dubai.

The officials who were monitoring the passengers who arrived from Dubai on Monday night grew suspicious of a male passenger, aged around 35, who had travelled to Dubai as a tourist and was returning to the city. The man hailing from Chennai was stopped and questioned, following which the Customs officials inspected his large suitcase. During the search, they found several drone components packed inside the luggage.

The drones had not been assembled and were being carried as individual components. The seized items contained enough parts to assemble around 10 drones, said officials. They also found a large quantity of e-cigarettes, which are prohibited in India, in the suitcase. The combined international value of the drone components and e-cigarettes is estimated to be around Rs 35 lakh.

The officials found the passenger did not have the required documents for importing the drone components. Officials are also investigating who the components were intended for and the purpose for which they were being brought into the country.

The agency seized the drone components and e-cigarettes and is continuing its investigation into the passenger and the circumstances surrounding the attempted smuggling.