Known locally as OG, hydroponic ganja is as potent as cocaine, as the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content is 30%-40% compared to 3%-4% found in regular ganja. Investigators peg its street price at around Rs 1 crore per kg, which is the same as that of synthetic drug methamphetamine in Chennai.
“The government has raised the issue with the authorities in Thailand and had also flagged it in a bilateral meeting held from May 27-29 in Bangkok. The (smuggling) modus operandi showed involvement of human carriers on flights originating from Thailand as well as the use of courier parcels,” the ministry said in a reply to an unstarred question asked by Lok Sabha member Benny Behanan.
Interestingly, the modus operandi used in all these cases is similar, with the drug packed in air-tight plastic bags which are concealed inside tetra packs of fruit juices, chocolates or ready-to-eat breakfast items. This is to ensure that its smell does not escape and alert the officials. The ministry said air routes have been identified as major trafficking routes for such smuggling.