The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)’s Bengaluru unit said Sunday it has arrested three people, including a Sri Lankan national, for allegedly smuggling drugs worth Rs 50 crore. NCB said the seizure was made on October 9, and that it had seized 45.4 kg of hydroponic ganja and 6 kilogram of psilocybin mushrooms. "NCB, Bengaluru Zonal Unit, had been developing intelligence on drug cartels involved in the trafficking of hydroponic ganja from Thailand for quite some time. One such effort led to the interdiction of two persons coming by flight from Colombo to Bengaluru and seized 31.4 kg of hydro ganja and 4 kg of psilocybin mushrooms," the agency said. "Their interrogation revealed that their handler, a Sri Lankan, is coming in a later flight. This Sri Lankan handler was also identified and interdicted with 14 kg of hydro ganja and 2 kg of psilocybin mushrooms. The seized drugs were meticulously concealed in around 250 food tins, which were vacuum sealed to evade detection. Further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend other members of this syndicate," it added. According to NCB, hydro ganja costs Rs 80 lakh per kg. NCB said that it has seized about 22 kg of hydro ganja this year, worth several hundred crores of rupees, and arrested 45 people in 18 cases. Most of those arrested are from Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. "Trafficking in hydro ganja has become a lucrative business as it commands a high premium in the retail market, and can be sold up to a cost of Rs 80 lakh per kg. Hydroponic ganja has become an elite party drug due to its high psychoactive effect, and many young persons are ready to become mules to bring it contraband from Thailand,” said the agency. “Grown in a controlled environment, it contains up to 25 per cent Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as against 5 per cent in normal ganja grown in India. It is meticulously concealed inside tetra packs, chocolate bars, food packaging, clothing, sealed vacuum pouches to mask odour and evade scanners at airports. Routes often involve transits via third countries like Dubai, Colombo or Kathmandu, etc, as direct flights from Bangkok invite more scrutiny at the airports," it added.
