In a pan India operation code named Operation “WeedOut”, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) dismantled a syndicate involved in smuggling of hydroponic weed into India. In the late evening of 20^th August 2025, simultaneous interception were made by officers of DRI at Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Railway station, Bengaluru, and Bhopal Junction.

Thorough search of baggage of two passengers who had just boarded the Rajdhani train (22691) for Delhi, led to recovery of 29.88 kg of hydroponic weed at Bengaluru. In a coordinated action, 24.186 kg of hydroponic weed was recovered at Bhopal Junction from two passengers who had boarded the Rajdhani train on 19^th Aug 2025 from Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, associate mastermind of the syndicate was traced in New Delhi and proceeds of drug trafficking amounting to Rs. 1.02 crore was recovered from his possession.

In a swift follow up, a passenger who arrived at Bengaluru from Thailand on 20^th August 2025 was intercepted in the early hours of 21^st August 2025 at a hotel in Bengaluru, which led to recovery of another 17.958 kg of hydroponic weed.

A total of 72.024 kg of hydroponic weed worth around Rs. 72 crore along with illegal proceeds of Rs. 1.02 crore was seized under the provisions of NDPS Act, 1985.

The associate mastermind and all five passengers involved were arrested. The syndicate used to reach out to college dropouts, part-time employed or unemployed youth via social media. The NDPS Act has stringent punishments for offences related to handling of drugs.

NDPS Act enforcement curbed organized hydroponic cannabis smuggling; coordinated seizures and arrests disrupted syndicate networks. A coordinated enforcement operation targeted an organized syndicate smuggling hydroponic cannabis, producing multiple interceptions, seizures of controlled substance and recovery of alleged illicit proceeds, and arrests executed under the NDPS Act; the syndicate recruited via social media and enforcement relied on simultaneous railway and site searches and follow-up tracing of associates.