Mumbai police bust ₹7.69 crore hydroponic weed racket, one held

In a significant anti-narcotics operation, Mumbai police have seized hydroponic cannabis worth ₹7.69 crore and arrested a 24-year-old man in the Vile Parle area, officials said on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as Adnan Nasir Khan , a resident of Mira Road , was apprehended by the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of the Worli unit during the early hours of Monday. Police said Khan had arrived in the area carrying a trolley bag believed to contain the drug consignment .

According to investigators, officers on patrol noticed Khan behaving suspiciously while moving through the locality. When the police approached him for questioning, he allegedly attempted to flee , raising further suspicion. However, the officers managed to chase and detain him within moments.

A subsequent search of the trolley bag revealed hydroponic weed valued at approximately ₹7.69 crore , marking one of the notable seizures of this premium form of cannabis in the city in recent times.

Hydroponic weed refers to cannabis grown using a water-based, nutrient-rich solution instead of soil . The plants are typically cultivated indoors under controlled lighting, temperature, and humidity conditions, which often results in higher potency and market value compared to conventional cannabis.

Police inspector Santosh Salunkhe of the Worli ANC said preliminary investigation suggests the accused does not have any previous criminal record . “He is a graduate from Mumbai , though documents indicate that he originally hails from Nashik,” the officer said.

Investigators are now working to trace the origin of the seized drugs and identify the network behind the consignment . Authorities are also trying to determine who was meant to receive the delivery in Mumbai.

Khan has been booked under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act , and further investigation is underway to uncover possible links to a wider drug distribution network.