Lok Sabha Question No. 405 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-22
Subject: Rise in Hybrid Cannabis Smuggling
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Benny Behanan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 405

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22 ND  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

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.

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## 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             | 2023   | 2023   | 2024             | 2024   | 2024   | 2025 (upto May)   | 2025 (upto May)   | 2025 (upto May)   |
|----------------|------------------|--------|--------|------------------|--------|--------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
|                | Quantity (in Kg) | Case   | Arrest | Quantity (in Kg) | Case   | Arrest | Quantity (in Kg)  | Case              | Arrest            |
| 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