A nationwide DRI crackdown under Operation ‘WeedOut’ has seized over 72 kg of high-potency hydroponic weed and illegal cash worth Rs 1.02 crore, exposing a racket targeting India’s youth.
In one of its biggest anti-narcotics crackdowns this year, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has dismantled a pan-India syndicate involved in smuggling hydroponic weed. Codenamed Operation WeedOut, the multi-city raids led to the seizure of 72.024 kg of hydroponic marijuana valued at nearly Rs 72 crore in the grey market, along with illegal proceeds of Rs 1.02 crore.
Also Read:BDA floats global tender for Bengaluru’s Revised Master Plan 2041
The coordinated operation unfolded on August 20 when DRI officials intercepted passengers at KSR Railway Station, Bengaluru, and Bhopal Junction. Searches revealed 29.88 kg of contraband at Bengaluru and 24.186 kg at Bhopal, both carried by passengers on the Rajdhani Express. Meanwhile, in New Delhi, investigators tracked down the syndicate’s associate mastermind and recovered Rs 1.02 crore in cash. A follow-up raid at a Bengaluru hotel exposed another consignment of 17.958 kg of hydroponic weed smuggled in from Thailand.
Also Read:Bengaluru woman booked for Rs 29 lakh online shopping fraud using husband’s account
Officials revealed that the syndicate recruited college dropouts, part-time workers, and unemployed youth through social media networks to serve as carriers. Unlike conventional marijuana, hydroponic weed is grown in controlled environments using water and nutrient solutions instead of soil, making it richer in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — the psychoactive compound known for altering mood, perception, and cognition.
Authorities warn that hydroponic weed, often smuggled from Thailand, is fast gaining popularity among students and young professionals in India. With the arrests of all five carriers and the associate mastermind, DRI believes the crackdown has dealt a significant blow to the illicit network.
Also Read:
1.Bengaluru Police seize 4,000 kg of drugs worth ₹45 Cr, deport over 200 foreign peddlers in a year
2.CDSCO bans 35 unapproved fixed-dose combination drugs to safeguard public health