Overview
- Customs officers intercepted three Indian passengers at Delhi’s Terminal-3 while they crossed the Green Channel after an intelligence tip and searched their baggage.
- Officers recovered 10 Autel Robotics MDX-1 drones along with controllers, gimbals, propellers and an iPhone 18 Pro Max from the passengers’ luggage.
- A Chartered Engineer assessed the drones as professional or military‑grade with thermal imaging and laser range finders and valued the haul at Rs 1,03,55,900.
- The goods were seized under Section 110(1) of the Customs Act, the three passengers were apprehended, and authorities say further investigation is under way with no public charges announced.
- The Green Channel is meant for undeclared goods so the seizure highlights customs scrutiny of dual‑use drone tech and could trigger DGCA registration checks, customs duties or criminal probes depending on the probe’s findings.