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The DRI seized 72.024 kg of hydroponic weed, worth around Rs 72 crore, along with Rs 1.02 crore in cash.
Weed seized by DRI (Credit: ANI)
In a large-scale operation named “Operation WeedOut,” the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) broke up a gang involved in smuggling hydroponic weed into India, the Ministry of Finance said.
On the evening of August 20, DRI officers carried out surprise checks at two railway stations — Krantiveer Sangolli Rayanna Station in Bengaluru and Bhopal Junction. They were tracking passengers on the Rajdhani Express (train number 22691) going to Delhi.
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The DRI officers discovered 29.88 kg of hydroponic weed while checking the bags of two passengers who had just boarded the train in Bengaluru. At the same time in Bhopal, officials found 24.186 kg of the same drug with two passengers who had boarded the train from Bengaluru a day earlier.
At the same time in Bhopal, officials found 24.186 kg of the same drug with two passengers who had boarded the train from Bengaluru a day earlier.
In a quick follow-up, a passenger who had arrived in Bengaluru from Thailand on August 20 was caught the next morning at a hotel. This led to the recovery of another 17.958 kg of hydroponic weed.
In total, the DRI seized 72.024 kg of hydroponic weed, worth around Rs. 72 crore, along with Rs. 1.02 crore in cash. All five passengers and the mastermind were arrested.
During investigation, it was also found that the gang used social media to contact college dropouts, part-time workers, and unemployed youth to help them smuggle drugs.
The Ministry said that strict action is taken under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, for anyone involved in drugs — including long jail terms and heavy fines
About the Author
Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her…Read More
Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can follow her… Read More
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