NCB Bengaluru Busts ₹50-Crore International Drug Syndicate; Sri Lankan Handler Among Three Arrested for Smuggling Hydroponic Ganja and Psychedelic Mushrooms
In a major crackdown on transnational narcotics trafficking, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)’s Bengaluru Zonal Unit has busted an international drug smuggling network, arresting three individuals, including a Sri Lankan national, for allegedly attempting to bring in high-value synthetic drugs worth ₹50 crore into India.
Officials confirmed that the operation, carried out on October 9, resulted in the seizure of 45.4 kilograms of premium hydroponic ganja and 6 kilograms of psilocybin mushrooms, both banned substances under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The Operation and Arrests
According to a detailed statement issued by the agency, NCB Bengaluru had been tracking a transnational drug cartel operating between Thailand, Sri Lanka, and India for several months.
The group was allegedly engaged in large-scale trafficking of hydroponically cultivated ganja — a potent, high-THC cannabis strain — and psychedelic mushrooms, both popular among the so-called “party elite.”
“Acting on specific intelligence, our officers intercepted two passengers who had arrived from Colombo to Bengaluru.
Their baggage search led to the seizure of 31.4 kilograms of hydro ganja and 4 kilograms of psilocybin mushrooms concealed inside cleverly packaged food tins,” the agency said.
Upon interrogation, the detained duo disclosed details of their handler — a Sri Lankan national — who was traveling on a later flight from Colombo.
Acting swiftly, the NCB team intercepted him at the Kempegowda International Airport and recovered an additional 14 kilograms of hydro ganja and 2 kilograms of psilocybin mushrooms.
In total, 250 food tins were found stuffed with the contraband, vacuum-sealed to mask the odor and evade detection by airport scanners and narcotics dogs.
“The smugglers went to extraordinary lengths to hide the drugs. The packaging mimicked legitimate commercial goods, making it nearly impossible for standard screening systems to detect the illicit cargo,” an NCB officer said.
Drugs Worth ₹50 Crore, Each Kilo Valued at ₹80 Lakh
According to NCB estimates, hydro ganja commands a staggering price tag of ₹80 lakh per kilogram in India’s underground market — making it one of the most profitable narcotics currently in circulation.
The total seizure from the operation is valued at approximately ₹50 crore.
The agency revealed that the Bengaluru narcotics corridor has emerged as a major hub for premium drug inflows, especially high-grade cannabis variants cultivated through hydroponics in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries.
So far in 2025, the Bengaluru NCB unit has seized 22 kilograms of hydro ganja in 18 separate cases, arresting 45 individuals.
Most of those apprehended belong to Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, pointing to a pan-India distribution network of traffickers and peddlers.
Inside the Elite Drug Market: Hydro Ganja and Psilocybin
Officials described hydroponic ganja as a “designer narcotic” grown in controlled, soil-free environments using nutrient-rich water systems and specialized lighting setups.
This cultivation process enhances the drug’s psychoactive potency, with Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels reaching up to 25%, compared to just 5% in conventional cannabis grown domestically in India.
“The result is an extremely potent variant that’s in high demand in elite party circuits and among high-paying users,” NCB explained.
Similarly, psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as “magic mushrooms,” are valued for their hallucinogenic effects.
Both drugs have been identified as emerging threats in India’s urban nightlife culture, particularly among younger users who view them as “safe recreational alternatives” — a dangerous misconception, according to the agency.
Smuggling Tactics and Routes
The syndicate used sophisticated concealment techniques, embedding the contraband inside tetra packs, chocolate bars, sealed food packaging, and even clothing.
Each consignment was vacuum-sealed to block scent detection and camouflaged with everyday consumer goods.
To reduce the risk of inspection, traffickers frequently avoided direct flights from Bangkok, opting instead for transit routes through Colombo, Dubai, or Kathmandu, which draw less attention from customs and security agencies.
“These traffickers have turned drug smuggling into a science — from concealment and logistics to exploitation of weak security points. But this bust proves that our intelligence and field operations are always a step ahead,” said a senior NCB official.
The Bigger Picture: A Lucrative but Deadly Trade
The NCB said the hydro ganja trade has evolved into a multi-crore underground industry, driven by its high retail margins and increasing demand among affluent consumers.
“Hydro ganja has become the new currency in the premium narcotics market. Its purity, high psychoactive content, and exclusivity have made it a sought-after commodity.
Unfortunately, young Indians are being lured into this deadly web as couriers and mules,” the agency said in a statement.
Investigations are underway to identify the larger network, including foreign handlers, local distributors, and financial backers connected to the syndicate.
NCB has also reached out to international enforcement counterparts in Sri Lanka and Thailand for intelligence cooperation.
The seizure is being hailed as one of Bengaluru’s biggest anti-drug operations of the year, and officials believe it has crippled a key supply chain feeding the city’s elite narcotics circuit.
The NCB reaffirmed its commitment to curbing international drug syndicates and protecting Indian youth from the expanding menace of designer narcotics.
This is just the beginning. We’re committed to dismantling every link in this chain — from source to street,” said a top NCB officer.
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