Nagpur: While premium-grade hydroponic ganja — priced between ₹80 lakh and ₹1 crore per kilogram — is making headlines with seizures in Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, and several airports, Nagpur has so far remained untouched by this costly drug trend.

Under Operation Thunder, launched in March 2024 under the leadership of Police Commissioner Dr. Ravinder Kumar Singal, Nagpur police have seized narcotics worth ₹8.65 crore up to June 2025. However, no hydroponic ganja has been intercepted in the city so far, confirmed Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection) Rahul Maknikar.

“‘Dro weed’ or simply ‘dro’ is slang for hydroponic ganja, cultivated without soil using hydroponic methods. This type of cultivation is popular in countries like Indonesia and Thailand, and the drug is often smuggled into India from Southeast Asia. Several such consignments have been seized at airports by Customs and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, but Nagpur has yet to see any cases,” said DCP Maknikar.

Explaining its steep market value, he added, “While the taste may hardly differ from regular ganja, its trend status and high demand make it extremely expensive. Nagpur police are on constant alert to prevent any form of illegal narcotics trafficking.”

Police sources explained that cannabis mainly exists in two varieties — sativa and indica — used for both medicinal and recreational purposes. Hybrid ganja is produced by selectively breeding the two to combine desirable qualities, with its appearance depending on the parent strains.

Hydroponic ganja, however, is grown in controlled farm or greenhouse environments with regulated temperature and humidity. This method ensures higher potency, with crops harvested at specific intervals to maximize quality.

Smuggling Tactics

Unlike conventional ganja, often brought into Nagpur from states like Odisha, hydroponic weed typically arrives in India by air. Smugglers conceal it in airtight plastic packets hidden inside tetra packs of juices, chocolates, or ready-to-eat food products to mask its odor and bypass security checks.

With the rising national trend of high-end cannabis, Nagpur police say they are maintaining strict surveillance to ensure the city remains free of the costly and potent hydroponic variant.