The Amrutahalli Police successfully intercepted the transnational drug pipeline, which originated from Thailand and had since been extended to the streets of Bengaluru. The multi-day operation in which 10 high-level peddlers were arrested during a span of roughly between January 28 and 29 resulted in a massive stash of synthetic and natural drugs being recovered.
Operation Details: From Jakkur to Kanakapura Road
The crackdown started on Jan. 19, after a tip-off about suspicious activity near the Jakkur railway track. The initial arrests were a trail that guided authorities to additional members of the gang. By January 21, the police officers searched GKVK grounds and then Kaggalipura on Kanakapura Road, where they were searching for members of the syndicate.
The ‘Thailand Connection’ and the Dark Internet Studies
Investigations uncovered a high-tech way of operation. The accused used the Dark Web to work with a kingpin based in Thailand (reportedly originally of Kerala).
- Sources: Hydro Ganja quality, top of the line, was purchased from “Team Kalki” via a Dark Web site.
- Smuggling: The drugs flew into India on air routes in all directions, often hidden in check-in baggage or in “mules” who were offered massive bonuses of up to ₹2 lakh for successful delivery.
Distribution and distribution were also facilitated by distribution to rich and powerful people of Yelahanka; Hebbal; Koramangala; Bellandur.
Profile of arrested person and seized contraband
Among the 10 arrested, seven are from Kerala, two are from Karnataka, and one person belongs to Andhra Pradesh. They are known as: Kushal Goud, Sagar, Shashank, Wilson, Aashir Ali, Sajjad, Riyaz, Shiyab, Nisar, Abhinav.
Materials Seized:
- 3 kg Hydro Ganja (Premium variety).
- 10 kg Regular Ganja.
- 500 LSD Strips (often hidden in photo frames).
- 50g MDMA and 500g Charas.
- 2 Cars and 14 Mobile Phones.
- ₹36,000 in Cash.
Internal rivalries and target groups
According to police reports the syndicate was very organised with internal violence. Gang members frequently competed over territory, and some conflicts resulted in deadly assaults. The target demographic was mainly the “party crowd" and young professionals in tech corridors.
Thalaghattapura Seizure: A Parallel Success
In a separate but no less vital operation, the Thalaghattapura Police arrested a shipment amounting to 78 kg of Ganja amounting to ₹60 lakh. These peddlers were allegedly buying some of their stock from Odisha and selling at exorbitant prices to local students.
Next Steps
Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said that the effort to capture the Thailand kingpin is being intensified with 10 members currently under state custody.
