Weed worth Rs 72 crore smuggled across cities on Rajdhani trains, racket busted

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has unravelled a major drug trafficking network smuggling hydroponic cannabis into India. The operation, codenamed "WeedOut", resulted in a series of seizures and arrest of six individuals, including a key associate of the trafficking network, across Bengaluru, Bhopal and New Delhi between August 19 and 20.

The seizures began on August 19 during routine checks at Bengaluru and Bhopal railway stations. DRI officials recovered 24.186 kg of hydroponic marijuana at Bhopal Junction from a passenger en route to Delhi from Bengaluru via Rajdhani Express on August 19.

Another 29.88 kg was intercepted from a passenger on the same train also headed to Delhi on August 20.

Further investigations led the DRI to a hotel in Bengaluru, where a passenger who had recently returned from Thailand was found in possession of 17.958 kg of the same substance.

Meanwhile, in the national capital, officials traced a syndicate associate and recovered Rs 1.02 crore in cash from his possession, suspected to be proceeds from drug trafficking.

In total, the DRI seized 72.024 kg of hydroponic marijuana and Rs 1.02 crore in cash. All five passengers carrying the drugs and the syndicate associate have been arrested.

This operation follows an earlier bust in Jagdishpur, Bhopal, where the DRI had uncovered an illegal MD drug manufacturing unit. Further investigation is underway.

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