International drug syndicate busted, ex-Customs official nabbed

The Delhi Police on Wednesday claimed to have unearthed an international drug syndicate operating in India, Thailand and Dubai with the arrest of a former Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) officer and seizure of hydroponic marijuana (ocean-grown weed) worth Rs 27.24 crore in the international market.

The accused, identified as Rohit Kumar (35), a resident of Gopal Nagar extension, Najafgarh, Southwest Delhi, was dismissed from service in 2023 following a departmental inquiry for his role in a 3-kg gold smuggling case during his posting at Kannur Airport, Kerala.

The police got a tip-off about the supply of hydroponic marijuana near Janak Cinema, West Delhi. Acting on the information, the police laid a trap and arrested Kumar.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said Kumar shifted to Dubai following his dismissal from the Customs Department where he came in contact with Abhishek, a resident of Bihar.

Together, they conspired to import hydroponic marijuana from Thailand into India. Kumar used his deep-rooted connections within the Customs Department to ensure that carriers bringing the contraband into India were cleared without checks, Yadav mentioned.

The contraband was cleverly concealed in packets disguised as food items to bypass scanners. Once in India, Kumar received the consignments and supplied them to party organisers, dealers and high-end customers in Delhi-NCR and other metros. The illegal proceeds were laundered through hawala channels and cryptocurrency transactions routed to Dubai, the DCP added.

Hydroponic marijuana (ocean-grown weed) is a rare, high-end synthetic variety of marijuana, preferred by affluent users and party circuits due to its extremely high tetrahydrocannabino (THC) content. The higher THC has greater potential for negative health effects, including addiction and psychosis.

It is organically and scientifically cultivated in Thailand using advanced hydroponic methods to produce superior-grade cannabis. Users typically roll it in paper like cigarettes or mix it with tobacco for smoking. Experienced users inhale it through water pipes (bongs) for a smoother yet more intense effect, while urban and tech-savvy youth often consume it through electronic vaporisers for discreet and efficient inhalation.