The Amruthahalli police successfully executed a tactical operation which resulted in the arrest of two of the region's most significant drug traffickers in the international smuggling corridor between Thailand and Bengaluru. The accused, who had also avoided the high-level security at Kempegowda International Airport at the time of their arrest, had ultimately been seized and proven to have a highly sophisticated Hydro Ganja valued at around ₹5 crore.
The Modus Operandi: Hidden in Plain Sight
The arrested individuals, Majid and Azad, are natives of Kerala. Police sources said the pair had developed a trick to avoid airport customs and scanners. According to the case study, they packed the Hydro Ganja in sealed packets of Lays potato chips and KitKat chocolate bars, along with a few other snacks, to circumvent authorities' notice.
Combining the contraband with actual food objects, they made sure the packages looked like a regular tourist purchase or gift and so effectively fooled airport security in several previous visits.
The Seizure
The Amruthahalli police unit eventually converged on the suspects, after a tip-off and a sustained watch by police agents. On their search of their belongings, the police found:
- 5 Kilograms of high-end Hydro Ganja.
- High potency and popularity of Thai-grown Hydro Ganja among elite social classes in Bengaluru mean that the market value of the seized drugs is estimated at ₹5 crore.
International Links
Preliminary investigations had revealed that the accused had made extensive trips to Thailand where Hydro Ganja is readily accessible. In addition, they would buy in bulk and return to Bengaluru to trade at inflated prices to local dealers and wealthy clients. The suspects confessed to once having completed this "snack-packing" method several times until their luck ran out.
Police Commendation
The Bengaluru City Police commended the Amruthahalli team for being vigilant. “The arrest highlights drug traffickers’ altering tactics. While they were able to avoid early screenings at the airport, our intelligence and investigation on the ground level eventually shut down the supply chain,” the senior official said. Investigators are now seeking the wider web of the duo in order to track down their local buyers and potential collaborators in Thailand or Kerala. Majid and Azad are now in judicial custody as investigations still remain.
