The incident happened in the wee hours yesterday when the three, identified as Van Lal Chhana (21), Lal Zuiliana (42) and C Rochunga (29), arrived at Terminal-3 of the IGIA to board a connecting Air India flight to Aizwal.
Sleuths of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), who guard the airport, grew suspicious about their demeanour and took them for a detailed frisking.
"19.5 kilograms of Pseudoephedrine was recovered from their baggage which was kept concealed in wrappers," a senior CISF official said. The narcotic is used as a party drug.
While the value of the consignment in Indian market is about Rs 19 lakh, the same fetches close to Rs 1 crore in international peddling market, the official said.
CISF later called in anti-narcotics authorities who apprehended the trio.