Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 22: India has witnessed a 24% surge in hybrid cannabis smuggling in 2025, with 373 kg seized in just five months, compared to 302 kg in all of 2024, according to data presented in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai.

The smuggling of high-potency hydroponic cannabis, often routed via airports, international courier services, and the dark web, has expanded rapidly. Karnataka recorded the highest seizures this year at 158 kg, nearly tripling last year’s figure of 56 kg. Gujarat followed with 85 kg (up from 22.3 kg), while Maharashtra saw a drop to 46 kg from 72.3 kg in 2024.

A notable development is the emergence of Kerala as a new trafficking point. Although it had zero seizures in 2023 and 2024, 3 kg of hybrid cannabis were seized this year in two separate cases, leading to five arrests. The contraband was found in parcels sent from Thailand, indicating a growing use of international courier networks for smuggling.

Other states with reported seizures include Tamil Nadu (54 kg), Odisha (11 kg), and Telangana (11 kg). So far in 2025, 77 people have been arrested across 56 cases, a sharp rise from 51 arrests in 101 cases last year.

The Indian government has raised the issue with Thai authorities, particularly over the use of human couriers on flights and parcel-based smuggling, during a bilateral meeting held in Bangkok from May 27–29, 2025.

In response, the Centre has strengthened its anti-narcotics efforts by activating a four-tier Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD), instructing all states to form Anti-Narcotics Task Forces, and launching the MANAS helpline (1933) to encourage public reporting of drug activities.

The data points to a shifting landscape of drug trafficking, where syndicates are leveraging technology and global routes, prompting India to adopt more coordinated and tech-enabled countermeasures.