In a major crackdown on narcotics trafficking, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized hydroponic weed worth Rs 24.18 crore in a joint operation on the Bengaluru-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express on Wednesday night. Two traffickers, both Delhi residents, were arrested with the contraband.

 

The operation was initiated after Dr Abhishek, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, RPF Bhopal, received an intelligence input from the Deputy Director of DRI, Indore, regarding possible smuggling of narcotics on the Rajdhani Express. Acting swiftly, an RPF team led by Assistant Security Commissioner Chandrashekhar Rajput, in co-ordination with DRI officials, laid a trap at Bhopal Junction. When the train (No. 22691) arrived around 9 pm, five passengers were deboarded from coaches A-1 and B-6 on suspicion. On searching the luggage of Upkar Singh and Sirjan Singh, both from Delhi, officers discovered 24.18 kilograms of hydroponic weed packed in vacuum-sealed packets inside two trolley bags.

 

The narcotics are estimated to have a street value of Rs 24.18 crore. Smuggling Network Linked to Thailand: According to officials, the DRI had already intercepted a group of traffickers smuggling hydroponic weed from Thailand. While five members of the network were caught in Bengaluru, three others managed to escape and boarded the Bengaluru-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express, attempting to transport the narcotics to Delhi. Continuous surveillance led to their capture in Bhopal.

 

This Weed is Grown at Home Without Land: Hydroponic weed, unlike conventional cannabis grown on farms, is cultivated using hydroponic techniques, a soil-less system where plants are grown indoors using nutrient-rich water solutions, artificial lighting, and controlled environments. This method allows traffickers to produce high-quality marijuana in small spaces, even within residential homes or flats, without agricultural land. The potency of hydroponic weed is much higher than regular cannabis, making it extremely profitable in the illegal drug market. Bhopal’s Troubling Link with Narcotics:

 

The latest seizure has once again drawn attention to Bhopal’s recurring links with the narcotics trade. The city recently hit national headlines in the Jagdishpur MD drug factory case, exposing international connections. A massive raid revealed that the MD drug unit in Bhopal was being operated by underworld operative Salim Dola, who had direct links with the D-Company. Dola, brought to India from Dubai, was accused of running the factory that supplied drugs internationally. In this raid seven accused were arrested, including Prashant Thorat, Idris, Razzak, Abdul Faisal Qureshi, Anjali Rajput, Viren Shah and Ashraf Ren.

 

All were presented before the Special DRI Court in Mumbai and taken into remand for investigation. Officials confirmed that the seized drugs were part of an international supply chain linked to Turkey. A Growing Challenge: Experts warn that the hydroponic weed seizure in Bhopal and the Jagdishpur drug factory bust highlight how the city is increasingly becoming a hub in the global narcotics network. investigators argue that Bhopal’s central location and railway connectivity make it a transit point for drug smuggling operations, while advanced cultivation methods like hydroponics have enabled traffickers to bypass traditional monitoring systems.