Kolkata: The narcotic cell of the detective department seized hydroponic ganja, valued at over Rs 2 crore in the illegal, following late-night raids on Thursday, first on a guest house at Tagore Park and then, a home in Tiljala. A 28-year-old youth was arrested.
Acting on a tip-off, police knocked on the door of a room at Shankar Guest House in Tagore Park under Kasba Police Station, where they arrested Hasan Ali, a resident of Chowbaga Road in Tiljala. They siezed 558 gm hydroponic ganja, Rs 76,500 cash, a mobile and a digital weighing scale.
During his interrogation, Ali confessed to storing a larger consignment at his home in Tiljala. A police team took Ali accused to his home for a search. As police video-graphed the operation, the team recovered around 6.4 kg hydroponic ganja from the house, bringing the total seizure to around 7 kg.
Hydroponic ganja, locally called ‘OG’, has become the latest trend in India, prompting high-alert seizures by Customs and DRI teams. Major busts have been reported at airports in Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Mumbai from passengers arriving from Thailand, where consumption is legal.
Cultivated in nutrient-rich water instead of soil, this potent strain commands an exorbitant price of Rs 80 lakh a kg to Rs 1 crore a kg. Officers said its market value matched synthetic methamphetamine, making it several times more expensive than regular weed.
A formal case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The Detective Department has officially taken over the probe from the Kasba police station. Preliminary questioning revealed that Ali received eight kilograms of the drug from an accomplice who is currently on the run. This absconding suspect reportedly smuggled 12 kilograms of the contraband into the country from Bangkok recently. Ali is being produced in court, where police will seek custody to track down the international drug syndicate.