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The Amruthahalli police have busted an inter-State drug trafficking racket and arrested 10 persons in Bengaluru. They have seized narcotics, including hydro ganja, LSD strips, MDMA and charas, worth ₹4 crore.
Acting on a tip-off received on January 19, police learnt that a group of persons were illegally selling narcotic substances near the Jakkur railway track within the limits of Amruthahalli police station. A police team apprehended four persons, including suspects from outside Karnataka.
From their possession, police seized 1 kg hydro ganja, 50 grams of MDMA, 500 grams of charas, 8 kg of ganja, and six mobile phones.
An NDPS Act case was registered at Amruthahalli Police Station on January 20. The four accused were produced in court and remanded to eight days of police custody.
Further investigation led to the arrest of five more accused on the same day near Kanakapura Road.
Based on information provided by them, police conducted another operation on January 21 at the GKVK campus, seizing 2 kg of hydro ganja, one car, eight mobile phones, and ₹36,000 in cash. The accused were produced in court and were remanded to seven days in police custody.
On January 22, police arrested another accused near Satellite Bus Stand on Mysuru Road, and seized 500 LSD strips and 2 kg of ganja.
With the arrest of all 10 accused, the total seizure amounts to 3 kg of hydro ganja, 50 grams MDMA, 500 grams, charas, 500 LSD strips concealed in photo frames, 10 kg ganja, two cars, 14 mobile phones, and ₹36,000 in cash.
On January 23, seven accused were produced in court, followed by the remaining three on January 27. All of them were remanded to judicial custody.
Investigations revealed that the accused sourced hydro ganja from Thailand through mules. These mules were offered ₹30,000 towards travel expenses, along with pocket money, to transport the contraband concealed in check-in baggage, exploiting limited screening at airports. The mules were allegedly assured a ₹2 lakh bonus upon successful delivery.
Police said the mules — working as mechanics, drivers, students and engineering graduates — were identified at the airport arrival area by receivers using photographs shared through WhatsApp. The mules and receivers were not personally acquainted but operated as part of a drug network.
The drugs were later distributed to local peddlers who operated within strictly defined territories. Any attempt to cross into another peddler’s area often led to violent clashes, with two peddlers sustaining injuries in such incidents, police said.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said police have cracked the network of mules and peddlers while efforts are on to trace and arrest the leader of the gang.
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