Customs officials seize hydroponic ganja worth Rs 1.15 cr at KIA; Farmer arrested for cultivating ganja

CHIKKABALLAPUR, CHITRADURGA: Customs officials at Kempegowda International Airport in Devanahalli have seized ganja worth Rs 1.15 crore in a targeted operation.

Acting on specific information, Customs officials conducted an inspection and intercepted a passenger arriving from Bangkok to Bengaluru. The officials at Terminal 2 detained the passenger upon arrival and recovered 3.29 kg of hydroponic ganja that was concealed in check-in baggage.

The accused was attempting to smuggle the narcotics through the airport. Following the seizure, the individual was arrested under the NDPS Act, 1985.

In another incident, the Nayakanahatti police in Chitradurga district arrested a man for illegally cultivating ganja plants on his farmland.The accused was identified as Palaiah G (58) from Guntha Kolammanahalli village in Challakere taluk.

Acting on credible information that ganja was being illegally grown on his land, a police team conducted a raid under the guidance of Chitradurga Superintendent of Police Ranjith Kumar Bandaru and Challakere DySP Satyanarayana Rao. The operation was led by Talaku Circle Inspector Hanumanthappa M Shirehalli and Nayakanahatti PSI G Panduranga.

During the raid, police seized 187 kg of ganja leaves from 791 ganja plants worth approximately Rs 18 lakh that were being cultivated on the accused’s farmland. Excise Superintendent Kiran and his staff also took part in the raid, SP Ranjith Kumar Bandaru said. He commended all the personnel involved in the operation.