New Delhi: Delhi Police have dismantled an international drug syndicate operating across India, Thailand, and the UAE with the arrest of a dismissed Customs Department officer and the seizure of over 21 kg of high-grade hydroponic marijuana worth ₹27 crore.
The accused, Rohit Kumar Sharma, 35, a former inspector with the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), was arrested during a late-night operation in Janakpuri, southwest Delhi. Police also recovered ₹44.42 lakh in cash — believed to be proceeds from drug sales — along with an SUV and a scooter from his possession, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said.
Acting on a tip-off, the police laid a trap near Janak Cinema on the night of October 13–14 and intercepted Sharma while he was delivering a large consignment of ocean-grown weed, commonly known as hydroponic marijuana. Officials seized 21.512 kg of the substance, which is considered a high-end, scientifically cultivated cannabis variant with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) level nearly ten times that of regular marijuana.
The drug, popular among affluent users and party circles, is believed to have been imported from Thailand through international courier routes.
Sharma, who holds a B.Tech in Electronics Engineering, joined the Central Excise Department in 2015. However, his career derailed after his 2019 arrest in a gold smuggling case at Kannur Airport in Kerala. He was later booked under the NDPS Act by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and dismissed from service in 2023 following a departmental inquiry.
According to police, after his dismissal, Sharma moved to Dubai, where he met a Bihar native named Abhishek. The two allegedly planned to smuggle hydroponic marijuana from Thailand into India using low-footfall airports like Guwahati, exploiting Sharma’s insider connections in the Customs Department.
Investigators revealed that the proceeds from the drug sales were funneled through hawala networks and cryptocurrency transactions routed to Dubai. Police said efforts are ongoing to identify and trace Sharma’s associates and the wider cartel network.
