**Summary:**
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Ministry of Finance, has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking syndicates involved in smuggling hydroponic weed into India through "Operation Weed Out." In less than 20 days (August 26, 2025 - September 14, 2025), DRI has seized 108.67 kg of hydroponic weed in multiple operations across India.
A significant seizure of 39.2 kg of hydroponic cannabis occurred at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, on September 13-14, 2025, leading to the arrest of three individuals under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The contraband was discovered in the checked-in baggage of two Indian nationals arriving from Bangkok. A follow-up action resulted in the arrest of the intended recipient.
In a separate incident, 7.8 kg of hydroponic weed being smuggled from Bangkok to Mumbai was seized, and two passengers were arrested under the NDPS Act, 1985. Additional seizures of 61.67 kg of hydroponic weed smuggled from Bangkok were made at various locations, including Jaipur, Lucknow, and Kolkata, between August 26 and September 12, 2025.
Prior to these recent actions, on August 20-21, 2025, DRI seized 72.024 kg of hydroponic weed valued at approximately Rs. 72 crore, along with illegal proceeds of Rs. 1.02 crore, and arrested five individuals, including financiers and a mastermind, under the NDPS Act, 1985.
The DRI has observed a marked increase in attempts to smuggle hydroponic weed from Thailand into India through various airports over the past year and is committed to combating these drug syndicates in alignment with the Government of India's vision of a "Nasha Mukt Bharat" (Drug-Free India).
Key Entities Referenced
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence: An Indian intelligence agency under the Ministry of Finance responsible for combating smuggling and tax evasion.
Operation Weed Out: A pan-India operation by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) targeting drug trafficking syndicates.
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985: An Act of the Parliament of India that prohibits a person from producing, possessing, selling, purchasing, transporting, storing, and/or consuming any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.
Mumbai, Maharashtra: A city in Maharashtra where seizures of hydroponic weed were made at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
Bangkok, Thailand: The origin point for the smuggled hydroponic weed seized by DRI.
Jaipur, Rajasthan: A city in Rajasthan, India, where seizures of hydroponic weed were made.
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: A city in Uttar Pradesh, India, where seizures of hydroponic weed were made.
Kolkata, West Bengal: A city in West Bengal, India, where seizures of hydroponic weed were made.
Ministry of Finance
DRI continues crackdown on drug trafficking
syndicates under “Operation Weed Out”;
Is less than 20 days, DRI has seized 108.67 kg of
hydroponic weed in separate Pan-India operations
Posted On: 16 SEP 2025 4:17PM by PIB Delhi
As part of ongoing pan-India “Operation Weed Out”, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized
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39.2 kg of hydroponic weed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai on 13 -14
September 2025. Three persons have been arrested in a coordinated operation, under the provisions of the
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers intercepted two Indian nationals arriving from Bangkok.
Thorough examination of their checked-in baggage led to the recovery of 39 packets weighing 39.2 kg of
hydroponic cannabis. A swift follow-up action resulted in the arrest of the intended recipient.
In another case, based on specific intelligence, the officers of DRI, seized 7.8 kg (gross weight) of hydroponic
weed being smuggled from Bangkok, Thailand, to Mumbai and arrested two passengers under the relevant
provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985.
DRI has separately made seizures of 61.67 kg of Hydroponic Weed being smuggled from Bangkok,
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Thailand, into India at different parts of India, including Jaipur, Lucknow, and Kolkata during period of 26
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August to 12 September 2025.
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It may be recalled that earlier in Pan-India operation on 20 & 21 August 2025 DRI had seized a total of
72.024 kg of hydroponic weed worth around Rs. 72 crore along with illegal proceeds of Rs. 1.02 crore and
had arrested 5 persons, including financiers and a mastermind under the provisions of NDPS Act, 1985.Over the past year, there has been a sharp rise in attempts to smuggle hydroponic weed from Thailand into
India through various airports. DRI continues to act firmly against such drug syndicates that have been
smuggling hydroponic weed in the country, reinforcing the Government of India’s vision of a Nasha Mukt
Bharat.
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NB/KMN
(Release ID: 2167182)