Bengaluru: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Thursday dismantled an international drug syndicate at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, arresting three persons — including a Sri Lankan national — and seizing 45.4 kg of hydroponic ganja and 6 kg of psilocybin (magic) mushrooms, with the consignment valued at about ₹50 crore.
Operation and arrests
NCB’s Bengaluru zonal unit said the operation followed specific intelligence on cartels trafficking hydroponic ganja from Thailand. Officials intercepted two men arriving by a flight from Colombo (Sri Lanka) on October 9 and recovered 31.4 kg of hydroponic ganja and 4 kg of psilocybin mushrooms from them during initial checks. Interrogation led to the identification of their handler — a Sri Lankan national — who arrived on a later flight and from whom an additional 14 kg of hydroponic ganja and 2 kg of psilocybin were seized. Three persons were taken into custody in the coordinated action.
NCB officials said the drugs were meticulously concealed inside roughly 250 vacuum-sealed food tins to evade detection by scanners and sniffer teams — a modus operandi that has been noted in several recent seizures. Investigations are on to identify other members of the syndicate and to trace the full supply chain.
High-value illicit trade and market dynamics
The NCB noted that hydroponic ganja commands a premium in the retail market and can fetch as much as ₹80 lakh per kg, making trafficking extremely lucrative. The agency added that hydroponic varieties, grown in controlled indoor environments, can contain up to 25% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) — significantly higher than the roughly 5% THC typical of conventional ganja cultivated outdoors in parts of India — which makes it attractive as an “elite party drug”.
According to the bureau, smugglers use complex routing — often transiting consignment via a third country such as Dubai, Colombo or Kathmandu — to avoid heightened scrutiny on direct Bangkok flights. Concealment techniques include vacuum packaging, embedding in food packaging, tetra packs, chocolate bars and clothing to mask odour and fool scanners or casual inspection.
Wider enforcement context and recent trends
NCB officials said the Bengaluru unit has been intensifying efforts against hydroponic ganja networks this year. The agency highlighted that multiple large seizures have been made in 2025, as the demand for high-potency cannabis and psychedelic substances rises among certain urban youth circles. The bureau’s interdictions aim to disrupt supply chains, dismantle trafficking networks and prosecute those involved under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The arrests follow a pattern of cross-border trafficking investigations where intelligence-led operations at airports and transit hubs have proved decisive in intercepting consignments before they enter domestic distribution channels. NCB sources told the press that continued co-operation with overseas law-enforcement and targeted surveillance at arrival terminals remain key to such successes.
Official statements and next steps
In its public release, the NCB said the case remains under active investigation. Cyber and financial probes are expected to follow, aimed at identifying the handlers, financiers and end-market contacts. Officials also said forensic analysis of the seized contraband will be carried out and that the bureau is coordinating with immigration and customs wings to examine travel histories and potential links to larger cartels.
A senior bureau official said, “There is a huge demand for hydroponic ganja as an elite party drug due to its high psychoactive effect. Many young persons are ready to become mules to bring the drug from Thailand,” underlining the social and enforcement challenges posed by such trafficking.
Conclusion
The seizure at Bengaluru airport is a significant blow to transnational trafficking networks dealing in high-potency cannabis and psychedelics. With the illegal trade yielding enormous profits — measured in lakhs and crores per kilogram — enforcement agencies warn that continuous intelligence-based operations, international co-operation and public awareness are essential to curb the spread of such drugs. The NCB’s probe will now focus on dismantling the remaining links in the syndicate and prosecuting those involved under applicable laws.