Mumbai:- In a meticulously coordinated series of anti-drug operations, the Mumbai Police’s Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) has seized drugs worth over ₹5.80 crore and arrested three individuals, including two Indonesian nationals, in what officials say is a sign of an evolving and transnational drug trafficking network operating in the city.
The most significant recovery took place in Oshiwara, where ANC officers from the Ghatkopar unit intercepted a consignment of 2.040 kg of high-grade hydroponic cannabis, popularly known as “hydro,” along Lokhandwala Back Road. The two individuals in possession of the drug—both Indonesian nationals—were immediately arrested. The seized consignment, believed to have been cultivated using advanced hydroponic techniques, has a street value of approximately ₹2.04 crore.
Earlier, on May 5, another suspect was caught in Powai during a routine patrol on Saki Vihar Road. ANC’s Azad Maidan unit found 108 grams of mephedrone, valued at ₹21.6 lakh, on the individual. The suspect was promptly arrested, with further inquiries underway to determine his role in the larger network.
In a separate incident, the ANC’s Worli unit raided a location in Dadar, leading to the seizure of 3.55 kg of hydro-cannabis—valued at ₹3.55 crore—and the arrest of one more accused.
The arrests have triggered a deeper probe into the international supply chain feeding Mumbai’s underground drug market. Police are particularly focused on tracing links between the local handlers and overseas suppliers, especially in Southeast Asia, where hydroponic cannabis farming has become a booming illicit industry.
All three accused have been booked under stringent sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and are now in custody pending further investigation.
Law enforcement officials say the seizure is part of a broader crackdown on synthetic and cultivated drugs, which are increasingly making their way into urban India. The sophisticated packaging, cultivation quality, and the involvement of foreign nationals point to a well-organized network that goes far beyond small-time peddling.
As ANC teams continue their efforts to map out and dismantle this network, authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity. Mumbai Police also reiterated their commitment to rooting out the drug menace, especially in light of its growing impact on youth and urban communities.
