The 18 kg of suspected hybrid ganja seized by the Ernakulam Rural District Anti‑Narcotics Special Action Force in Kerala on Wednesday originated outside India and carried a street value of about ₹18 crore, said G.H. Yathish Chandra, the Ernakulam Range DIG.

Addressing a press conference at the rural police headquarters in Aluva on Thursday, Mr. Chandra stated that the police already have information about the source of the drug, the route it took to reach here, and the people involved, but declined to disclose details.

Asked whether the consignment originated from Thailand, he said that “such drugs usually came from there, though the exact location would be confirmed through interrogation.”

Two arrested

The seizure was carried out by a team led by District Police Chief (Ernakulam Rural) P.S. Sudarshan and Perumbavur ASP Hardik Meena, leading to the arrest of two accused. The first accused was identified as Ayush, a native of Arukad in Vypeen, and his wife Anakha. The police initially recovered 1.25 kg of suspected hybrid ganja from a scooter Ayush was riding. Further questioning led to searches at the flat in Kunnuvazhi where he lived, resulting in the recovery of another 16.50 kg of the contraband and the arrest of his wife. Their antecedents are being verified to determine whether they were previously involved in distribution, though initial checks did not reveal anything.

Mr. Chandra said the couple had rented the flat a fortnight ago as part of the drug deal. “They were definitely wholesalers. They could not have arranged such a huge quantity on their own, and there are people above and below them. A network is certainly involved, and we are piecing together its pyramidical structure to identify those at various levels, including retailers and users,” he said.

“The seizure was the outcome of a fortnight-long undercover operation that culminated in a tip-off. This is one of the biggest seizures under the ongoing anti-drug campaign Operation Toofan,” Mr. Chandra said.

He added that the Ernakulam police range is building “a pyramidical structure” complete with a database of users, retailers, wholesalers, and top-level suppliers within and outside Kerala to strengthen the fight against drugs. “Victimising drug users is not our objective. They should be put through de-addiction. Peddlers and networks engaged in the drug trade are our targets,” Mr. Chandra said.