Bengaluru: The NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau) in Karnataka has seized drugs worth about Rs 50 crore being transported from Colombo to Bengaluru. Three people, including a Sri Lankan national, were arrested in the operation. NCB officials said 45.4 kg of hydro cannabis and 6 kg of silocybin mushrooms have been seized.
Drugs in food boxes
The operation was launched after receiving specific information about various drugs being transported from Sri Lanka to Bengaluru. On October 9, two people who landed at Bengaluru International Airport from Colombo were arrested and 31 kg of hydro hemp and 4 kg of silocybin mushrooms were seized from them.
Based on information provided by detainees, another Sri Lankan national from a later flight was arrested and 14 kg of hydro hemp and 2 kg of psilocybin mushrooms were seized from him. NCB officials said the accused had sealed the drugs in food boxes.
The NCB’s Bengaluru unit has seized 220 kg of various types of hydro ganja in 18 such cases in 2025. Its estimated cost is Rs 100 crore. 45 people have been arrested from Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra. NCB officials said the case is part of an international drug network and more accused are likely to be arrested.
The government’s policy is zero tolerance against drugs. Under this, the concerned department takes action against it by running campaigns from time to time. Apart from the NCB, the public police also shares inputs, which sometimes exposes big gangs. The drug business enters India, especially through Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, through Thailand. However, the government is neutral against it. There have been many cases where drugs are sent from across the border even with the aim of pushing the youth of India into drugs.
