A 28-year-old model and former Mrs Kerala contestant, Harsha Sunny, has been arrested at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport after customs officials allegedly recovered more than 11 kilograms of hydroponic marijuana from her luggage, with the seized contraband estimated to be worth Rs 11.82 crore in the international market.
According to customs authorities, Sunny arrived in Mumbai from Bangkok on the night of June 10-11 aboard an Air India flight. Officers from the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) and the Customs Department reportedly became suspicious of her behaviour during routine monitoring and decided to subject her to additional scrutiny.
During the examination, officials allegedly searched her trolley bag and discovered 12 vacuum-sealed packets containing a green leafy substance. Preliminary testing using a Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) field-testing kit reportedly confirmed the substance to be hydroponic marijuana, a high-grade form of cannabis cultivated using advanced hydroponic growing methods.
Following the seizure, customs officials arrested Harsha Sunny under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. Authorities stated that the total quantity recovered exceeded 11 kilograms, making it a significant drug seizure.
Sunny, who had previously participated in the Mrs Kerala 2025 competition, was later produced before a court in Mumbai's Fort area. The court subsequently remanded her to judicial custody.
Investigators are now focused on determining the intended recipient of the consignment and identifying whether the seized drugs were part of a larger trafficking operation. Authorities are examining possible links to organised drug-smuggling networks operating within India and abroad, while also attempting to identify any accomplices who may have been involved in transporting or distributing the contraband.
The arrest comes amid increasing concern over attempts to smuggle narcotics through Indian airports. In a recent case, officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized five kilograms of crystal methamphetamine valued at approximately Rs 5 crore from a passenger at Chennai International Airport before he could board a flight to Malaysia.
The case has also drawn comparisons with the widely publicised gold-smuggling investigation involving Ranya Rao, who was arrested in 2025 at Kempegowda International Airport after officials allegedly recovered more than 14 kilograms of smuggled gold from her possession.
Authorities continue to investigate the Harsha Sunny case, tracing the origins of the consignment, analysing travel records, and exploring possible international and domestic links to uncover the full extent of the alleged trafficking network.
