Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Home Affairs addressed Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 405 regarding the increase in high-potency hybrid cannabis smuggling. The government acknowledges the issue, details seizures and arrests made by Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (DLEAs), and outlines steps taken to strengthen enforcement and international cooperation, including discussions with Thailand. Data on seizures and arrests from 2023 to May 2025 is provided.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Smuggling and Distribution:**
* Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (DLEAs) have made seizures and arrests related to high-potency hybrid cannabis (Hydroponic Ganja) smuggling and distribution.
* Air routes are the primary trafficking routes.
* International couriers and parcels from Thailand have been used.
* In 2025, Kerala Excise Department reported two cases of Hydroponic Ganja seizures.
* **Government Actions:**
* The issue has been raised with Thai authorities, including during a bilateral meeting in Bangkok from May 27-29, 2025.
* Identified modus operandi involves human carriers from Thailand and courier parcels.
* A four-tier Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism enhances coordination between Central and State DLEAs.
* Dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTF) have been formed in every state.
* A Joint Coordination Committee, chaired by the Director General of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), monitors significant seizure cases.
* Coordination with agencies like Navy, Coast Guard, Border Security Force, and State ANTF for joint operations.
* Capacity building of other DLEAs.
* MANAS helpline No. 1933 launched for drug information/complaints.
* **Seizure and Arrest Data (2023-2025 up to May):**
* Data provided for Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, West Bengal, Delhi, Odisha and Punjab. Includes quantity of cannabis seized (in Kg), number of cases, and number of arrests.
Impact Analysis:
* **Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (DLEAs):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for enforcement, seizures, and arrests related to hybrid cannabis smuggling.
* *Action Required:* Continue enforcement efforts, coordinate with central and state agencies, and participate in NCORD.
* **State Governments:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for forming and maintaining Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTF).
* *Action Required:* Establish and support ANTF, coordinate with central agencies and participate in NCORD.
* **Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB):**
* *Impact:* Oversees the Joint Coordination Committee to monitor significant seizure cases.
* *Action Required:* Chair the Joint Coordination Committee and monitor seizure cases effectively.
* **International Authorities (Thailand):**
* *Impact:* Cooperation needed to address the origin of smuggled cannabis.
* *Action Required:* Collaborate with Indian authorities to investigate and prevent smuggling from Thailand.
* **Citizens:**
* *Impact:* Can report drug-related information/complaints.
* *Action Required:* Utilize the MANAS helpline No. 1933 to report any information related to drug trafficking.
Key Entities Referenced
SHRI BENNY BEHANAN: Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question No. 405 in Lok Sabha.
NITYANAND RAI: Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Thailand: Country identified as the origin point for international courier and parcel shipments of Hydroponic Ganja.
Kerala: State in India identified as potentially emerging as a major hub for hybrid cannabis smuggling.
Narcotics Control Bureau: Source of data on seizures and arrests related to hybrid cannabis smuggling.
NarcoCoordination Centre NCORD: Four-tier mechanism established to enhance coordination between Central and State Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (DLEAs).
AntiNarcotics Task Force ANTF: Dedicated task force formed in every state to curb drug menace.
MANAS helpline No. 1933: Helpline for drug information and complaints.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 405
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22ND JULY, 2025/ /ASHADHA 31, 1947 (SAKA)
RISE IN HYBRID CANNABIS SMUGGLING
405. SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the growing smuggling and
distribution of high-potency hybrid cannabis across various parts of the
country;
(b) if so, the details of the seizures, arrests and major routes used in such
trafficking during the last three years, State-wise;
(c) whether international courier networks and dark web platforms are being
used in such operations;
(d) whether State of Kerala is emerging as a major hub for hybrid cannabis
smuggling, as recent reports indicate; and
(e) whether any steps have been taken to strengthen enforcement and
coordination between the State and Central agencies and international
cooperation to curb this trend?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) to (d) The details of the seizures and arrests made by Drug Law
Enforcement Agencies for smuggling and distribution of high-potency
hybrid cannabis (Hydroponic Ganja) is at Annexure-I. Primarily, air
routes have been identified as the major trafficking routes for such-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 405 FOR 22.07.2025
smuggling. There have been incidents where international couriers and
parcels containing Hydroponic Ganja has been booked from Thailand and
subsequently seized by Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (DLEAs) in India.
In the year, 2025, 02 cases of seizures of Hydroponic Ganja has been
reported by the Excise Department of Kerala.
(e) The Government has raised the issues with the authorities in Thailand
and also flagged the issue in bilateral meeting held from 27th to 29th May,
2025 at Bangkok, Thailand as the modus operandi revealed the involvement
of human carriers traveling on flights originating from Thailand, as well as
the use of courier parcels. In addition, the government has taken various
steps to curb the drug menace like setting up a four-tier Narco-Coordination
Centre (NCORD) mechanism to enhance coordination between Central &
State DLEAs, formation of a dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) in
every state, Joint Coordination Committee under the chairmanship of
Director General NCB to monitor significant seizure cases, coordination
with other agencies like Navy, Coast Guard, Border Security Force, State
ANTF etc to conduct joint operations to control the drug trafficking,
capacity building of other DLEAs, launch of MANAS helpline No. 1933 for
drug information/complaint etc.
******LS USQ 405 for 22.07.2025
Annexure-I
Details of the seizures and arrests made by Drug Law Enforcement
Agencies for smuggling and distribution of high-potency hybrid cannabis
during the period 2023-2025 (upto May)
State/Year 2023 2024 2025 (upto May)
Quantity Quantity Quantity
Case Arrest Case Arrest Case Arrest
(in Kg) (in Kg) (in Kg)
Andhra
Pradesh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.887 1 0
Assam 0 0 0 10 1 1 0 0 0
Goa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.17 1 3
Gujarat 5.957 18 0 22.326 7 2 85 7 8
Karnataka 8.4 8 7 56 15 5 158 26 46
Kerala 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 5
Maharashtra 19.475 17 1 72.322 23 9 46 5 9
Rajasthan 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 2
Tamil Nadu 134.29 26 2 6 29 1 54 9 1
Telangana 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 2 1
West Bengal 0.935 1 1 90 15 20 0 0 0
Delhi 0 0 0 45 11 13 0 0 0
Odisha 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 2 2
Punjab 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
TOTAL 169 70 11 302 101 51 373 56 77
Source: Narcotics Control Bureau