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Bengaluru, Oct 12 (IANS) The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has seized illicit drugs worth Rs 50 crore with the arrest of three people, including a Sri Lankan, at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport. An official gave this information on Sunday.
The seized drugs included 45.4 kg of hydro ganja and 6 kg of psilocybin mushrooms. The agency carried out this operation on Thursday (October 9).
NCB, Bengaluru Zonal Unit, had been developing intelligence on drug cartels involved in smuggling of hydroponic ganja from Thailand for quite some time.
“One such attempt led to two persons coming on a flight from Colombo to Bengaluru being interdicted and 31.4 kg of hydro ganja and 4 kg of psilocybin mushrooms were seized. Their interrogation revealed that their handler, a Sri Lankan, was coming on a later flight, upon which this Sri Lankan handler was also identified and arrested with 14 kg of hydro ganja and 2 kg of Gone. of psilocybin mushrooms,” the NCB said in a statement.
The seized drugs were carefully concealed in approximately 250 food tins, which were vacuum sealed to avoid detection. The agency said that further investigation is going on to identify and arrest other members of this syndicate.
“This seizure exemplifies NCB’s commitment to successfully disrupt international and interstate drug networks to achieve the vision of a drug-free India,” the statement said.
During the year, NCB Bengaluru has seized 220 kg of hydro ganja worth hundreds of crores of rupees in 18 cases and arrested 45 people belonging to Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Smuggling of hydro ganja has become a lucrative business as it commands a high premium in the retail market and can be sold for up to Rs 80 lakh per kg.
“Hydroponic marijuana has become a typical party drug due to its high psychoactive effects, and many youths are willing to become mules to bring this banned substance from Thailand,” the NCB said.
“Grown in controlled environments, it contains up to 25 percent THC, while normal marijuana grown in India contains 5 percent. It is carefully hidden inside tetra packs, chocolate bars, food packaging, clothing, sealed vacuum pouches to hide the smell and avoid scanners at airports. The routes often include direct flights to Dubai, Colombo or Involves transit through third countries like Kathmandu etc. More checks have been invited at airports from Bangkok,” the agency said.
–IANS
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