Beauty contest runner-up Harsha Sunny arrested for allegedly smuggling hydroponic weed worth ₹11.8 cr: Details

Harsha Sunny, Beauty Contest Runner-Up, Arrested for Smuggling Hydroponic Weed: Key Details

Theindiapostdaily.com – A 29-year-old woman, employed as a relationship manager in a private bank and previously a beauty pageant finalist, was detained at Mumbai Airport for allegedly transporting drugs from Bangkok to India. The individual, named Harsha Sunny, was found in possession of 11.8 kg of hydroponic cannabis, with a market value exceeding ₹11.8 crore, according to authorities. The seizure occurred during her arrival at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) on Thursday morning.

Sunny claimed she was entrusted with carrying the concealed contraband by someone she met during her trip to Bangkok. The customs officials discovered 12 packets of the weed hidden in her trolley bag. She was subsequently charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and appeared in court, where she was placed in judicial custody. A thorough investigation is now underway to trace additional members of the drug network.

“The accused works as a relationship manager with a private bank and participated in a beauty contest in Kerala in 2025,” an official noted, adding that her role as a contestant was part of her profile.

Smuggling Cases on the Rise?

Harsha Sunny’s arrest highlights a growing pattern of drug trafficking through Indian airports. On Thursday, PTI reported that Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officers intercepted five kg of crystal methamphetamine, worth approximately ₹5 crore, from a passenger heading to Malaysia. The detained individual, Sivayogeswaran Rajkumar, was apprehended at Chennai International Airport just before boarding an IndiGo flight.

Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case

In 2025, Kannada actress Ranya Rao became a focal point in a gold smuggling investigation. DRI officials arrested her on March 2 at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, following claims she had made 27 trips to Dubai since January. During the search, 14.213 kg of gold bars were directly seized, while further checks at her home uncovered cash and jewelry valued over ₹2 crore.

“The trio were part of a larger syndicate that smuggled over 100 kg of gold into the country between 2024 and 2025,” stated The Hindu, citing ongoing investigations. Officials noted that one of the accused, Tarun Konduru Raju, facilitated the movement of gold through Dubai, while Sahil Sakariya Jain managed its distribution within India.

Although Ranya Rao had secured bail for economic offenses, her release was delayed due to preventive detention under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA). A DRI source confirmed that her one-year detention expired on April 22, paving the way for her eventual release.

Customs and DRI authorities recorded 549 narcotics-related seizures at Indian airports alone between April and October 2025, recovering drugs valued at more than ₹3,300 crore. These operations included significant busts of hydroponic cannabis originating from Bangkok, Singapore, and Malaysia, with major seizures reported in Mumbai, Chennai, and Amritsar.