Report: Manmeen Walia, New Delhi
The Crime Branch of Delhi Police has achieved a major success by busting an international drug syndicate operating between India, Thailand, and Dubai. The team of ARSC, Crime Branch, arrested Rohit Kumar Sharma @ Robit, an ex-officer of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), and recovered 21.512 kilograms of Hydroponic Marijuana (Ocean-Grown Weed) worth about ₹27.24 crore in the international market. The team also seized ₹44.42 lakh in cash, a Mahindra XUV 700, and an Activa scooty used in drug trafficking.
On the night of 13–14 October, the Crime Branch team received secret information that a major consignment of Hydroponic Marijuana would be delivered near Janak Cinema. Acting on this tip, a team of officers led by Inspectors Man Singh, Arvind Singh, and Sunder Gautam, under the supervision of ACP Sanjay Kumar Nagpal, laid a trap at the location.
The team caught the accused Rohit Kumar Sharma, a dismissed Customs officer, and recovered a large quantity of Hydroponic Marijuana from his possession.
A case under the NDPS Act (FIR No. 306/2025, dated 14.10.2025) was registered at PS Crime Branch, Delhi.
The accused, Rohit Kumar Sharma (35 years old), is a resident of Najafgarh, Delhi. He completed B.Tech in Electronics Engineering and joined the Central Excise Department in 2015. In 2019, he was posted at Kannur Airport, Kerala, where he was arrested in a gold smuggling case and later booked in an NDPS case by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). He was dismissed from service in 2023 after a departmental inquiry.
After losing his job, Rohit tried his hand in property dealing but soon turned to drug trafficking. He moved to Dubai, where he met a man named Abhishek from Bihar. Both planned to import Hydroponic Marijuana from Thailand to India. Rohit used his links in the Customs Department to clear the drug consignments without checking. The drugs were hidden in packets designed to look like food products.
He supplied the drugs to party organizers, dealers, and high-end users in Delhi-NCR and other metro cities. The money earned was sent abroad through hawala and cryptocurrency transactions to Dubai.
Hydroponic Marijuana, also known as Ocean-Grown Weed (OG), is a high-quality synthetic cannabis grown scientifically using hydroponic methods. It contains 30–40% THC, compared to 3–4% in normal ganja, making it much more potent.
It is cultivated mainly in Thailand and is popular among high-profile party circles and affluent youth. Users smoke it in cigarettes or through water pipes and vaporizers for a strong intoxicating effect.
The international syndicate smuggled Hydroponic Marijuana from Thailand using low-traffic airports like Guwahati to avoid detection. Rohit Sharma used his knowledge of customs procedures and insider contacts to get the consignments cleared smoothly.
The contraband was brought to Delhi through courier routes. The entire operation was managed from Dubai and Thailand, and the drug money was converted into cryptocurrency and sent abroad through hawala channels.
The accused is currently in police custody, and the investigation is underway to identify his foreign and local associates, as well as customs officials who may be linked to this cartel.
The Delhi Police Crime Branch has once again showcased its exceptional professionalism and commitment to curbing narcotics trade by dismantling an international drug cartel operating between India, Thailand, and Dubai.
Under the dynamic leadership of DCP Crime Branch, Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, and the dedicated efforts of the ARSC team, a major success was achieved with the arrest of an ex-CBIC officer involved in large-scale Hydroponic Marijuana trafficking worth ₹27.24 crore.
Their tireless work, sharp intelligence, and swift coordination have not only exposed a deep-rooted international network but also prevented a massive quantity of synthetic drugs from reaching the youth.
This outstanding operation reflects the Crime Branch’s unwavering dedication towards the fight against drugs and maintaining a drug-free society.
Salute to DCP Sanjeev Kumar Yadav and his entire team for their exemplary service and vigilant action.
