Bengaluru : In a massive pan-India crackdown, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has dismantled a sophisticated syndicate involved in smuggling high-value hydroponic weed into India, seizing a total of 72.024 kg of the drug worth approximately Rs. 72 crore along with Rs. 1.02 crore in illicit proceeds. The operation, code-named “WeedOut”, targeted the entire supply chain of the syndicate, from recruitment to distribution, exposing a network that exploited vulnerable youth.
The operation involved simultaneous interceptions on the evening of 20th August 2025 at Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Railway Station in Bengaluru and Bhopal Junction. In Bengaluru, officers conducted a thorough search of the baggage of two passengers boarding the Rajdhani Express (22691) to Delhi, recovering 29.88 kg of hydroponic weed. At Bhopal Junction, DRI officers intercepted two other passengers who had boarded the same train from Bengaluru on 19th August and recovered 24.186 kg of the drug.
Further investigation traced an associate mastermind in New Delhi, from whose possession Rs. 1.02 crore in drug proceeds was recovered. In a follow-up operation in Bengaluru on 21st August, a passenger arriving from Thailand was intercepted at a hotel, leading to the recovery of 17.958 kg of hydroponic weed. All six individuals, including the associate mastermind and five passengers involved in the syndicate, were arrested.
Investigations revealed that the syndicate specifically targeted college dropouts, part-time workers, and unemployed youth via social media, using them as couriers to transport and distribute the hydroponic weed. The entire operation was executed under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985, which prescribes stringent punishments for drug-related offences. Authorities confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with further actions planned to identify and dismantle other members of the syndicate.
The successful execution of Operation WeedOut highlights the DRI’s coordinated approach and vigilance in combating organized crime and illegal drug trafficking across India. By dismantling this network, the agency not only curbs the illegal supply of high-value hydroponic weed but also sends a strong message against criminal syndicates exploiting youth for illicit purposes.
