A drug smuggling gang which recruited unemployed youths and sent them on paid holidays to Thailand to bring back hydroponic ganja has been arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence in Bengaluru, Bhopal and Delhi.
After learning of the existence of a gang which sends youths to Thailand to smuggle hydroponic ganja, the DRI intercepted one suspect at a hotel in Bengaluru in the early hours of August 21, shortly after the suspect arrived from Thailand, and found 17.95 kg of hydroponic ganja in his possession.
The DRI has seized a total of 72 kg of hydroponic ganja worth around Rs. 72 crore along with ₹. 1.02 crore in cash in the operations across three cities.
A key mastermind from Delhi and five travelers who returned from Thailand with the contraband have been arrested in Bhopal and Bengaluru, the DRI has reported.
The two travelers had arrived earlier in Bengaluru on a flight from Thailand and were traveling to Delhi by train (Express Photo)
“The syndicate used to reach out to college dropouts, part-time employed or unemployed youth via social media. The NDPS Act has stringent punishments for offences related to handling of drugs,” the DRI said in an official statement on Friday.
The DRI’s pan India operation to crackdown on the smuggling of hydroponic ganja from Thailand began on August 20 under an operation titled “WeedOut”.
The DRI officials first intercepted two passengers at the Bengaluru city railway station (Krantiveera Sangolli Rayana station) on the evening of August 20 while they were set to travel on the Rajdhani Express to Delhi. A search of their baggage revealed the presence of 29.88 kg of hydroponic ganja.
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The two travelers had arrived earlier in Bengaluru on a flight from Thailand and were traveling to Delhi by train. “The search of baggage of two passengers who had just boarded the Rajdhani train (22691) for Delhi, led to recovery of 29.88 kg of hydroponic weed at Bengaluru,” the DRI said.
A simultaneous interception of two more passengers who were traveling on a Rajdhani Express that left Bengaluru on August 19 was carried out at the Bhopal Junction railway station when the train reached the station on August 20. The search of the baggage of the two passengers revealed the presence of 24 kg of hydroponic weed, the DRI said.
“In a coordinated action, 24.186 kg of hydroponic weed was recovered at Bhopal Junction from two passengers who had boarded the Rajdhani train on 19th Aug 2025 from Bengaluru,” the DRI stated.
A DRI team also tracked down a key mastermind of the hydroponic ganja smuggling racket in Delhi and seized ₹ 1.02 crore of cash from his possession.
