Nearly 300 carriers, 405 flight bookings and more than ₹1 crore allegedly spent on air travel—these are not figures from a crime thriller. They form part of an investigation by Telangana’s EAGLE Force into a suspected international hydroponic cannabis-smuggling network operating between Thailand and India.
The case reportedly connects cannabis cultivation in Thailand, couriers travelling through several Indian airports, hawala transactions and even a proposed ₹20–30 crore nightclub in Hyderabad.
The Airport Seizure That Opened the Case
The investigation began after Hyderabad Customs intercepted Mohsin Bahadurbhai Sodha at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport on April 7, 2026. Officials reportedly recovered approximately 13.2 kilograms of hydroponic cannabis from him.
Following surveillance, EAGLE Force officers arrested Prajapti Harshad Mansukhbhai and Sandeep Jaiprakash Vaswani, also known as Rahul Jain, near BHEL Junction in Ramachandrapuram. Another 12.739 kilograms of hydroponic cannabis was allegedly seized during that operation.
The arrests gradually led investigators towards what they described as a much larger network extending across India and Thailand.
How the Alleged Network Operated
According to EAGLE Force Director Sandeep Shandilya, investigators identified around 40 people allegedly connected with the operation.
Police named Mumbai-based brothers Hemang Pramod Keluskar and Sudhanshu Pramod Keluskar as the suspected organisers. Authorities allege that they established cannabis cultivation and procurement links in Thailand in 2023 before developing a distribution network covering Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and other states.
The carriers were allegedly recruited from different parts of India, particularly Gujarat and Telangana. Police say their flights and accommodation in Pattaya were arranged before they returned through airports such as Hyderabad, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Surat and Kolkata.
The investigation reportedly uncovered 405 flight bookings connected with the suspected network, with spending on air travel exceeding ₹1 crore. Officials believe nearly 300 carriers may have been used, although the full scale of the operation is still being established.
Cannabis Cultivation in Thailand
The group allegedly entered Thailand’s cannabis business under the appearance of legitimate medicinal and commercial activity.
Investigators claim the network leased a cultivation chamber capable of growing 144 cannabis plants per cycle under a five-year agreement. Cannabis cultivated or procured in Thailand was then allegedly transported to India and sold as premium hydroponic cannabis, often called “OG weed.”
Hydroponic cannabis is grown without traditional soil, generally using nutrient-rich water in a controlled environment. The term describes the cultivation method—it does not create a separate legal category for the substance in India.
According to police, the product was supplied to affluent customers, party circles and students in multiple Indian cities.
The Hawala Trail
Money appears to be another major part of the investigation.
Police allege that proceeds from cannabis sales were transferred through hawala channels and used to finance cultivation, travel, logistics and future consignments. Evidence examined during the investigation reportedly showed transfers exceeding 56 lakh Thai baht into accounts linked with cannabis-cultivation businesses.
Authorities are also examining possible connections between people associated with the network and organised-crime figures in Mumbai. These links remain allegations under investigation.
A ₹30 Crore Nightclub Plan in Hyderabad
Perhaps the most unexpected part of the case is a proposed nightclub in Kokapet, one of Hyderabad’s rapidly developing upscale areas.
Investigators allege that members of the network planned to invest between ₹20 crore and ₹30 crore in a nightclub inspired by Pattaya’s Jalwa Club. The accused reportedly visited Hyderabad in April 2026 and examined a potential location shortly before a major cannabis consignment entered the city.
Whether the proposed club was directly connected to the alleged trafficking operation remains a subject of investigation.
The Investigation Is Not Over
The EAGLE Force continues to search for additional associates, trace financial transactions and determine the true size of the alleged network.
The case also shows how cross-border cannabis operations can combine international travel, cultivation businesses, informal payment systems and urban distribution networks. However, every claim against the named individuals remains an allegation unless proven in court.
References
- Naveen Kumar, “300 mules, 405 flights and an international hydroponic cannabis syndicate spread across India”, The Hindu, June 4, 2026.
- EAGLE Force busts international hydroponic cannabis smuggling syndicate linked to Thailand, United News of India, June 4, 2026.
- Telangana’s EAGLE Force busts international drug-smuggling syndicate, PTI via ThePrint, June 4, 2026.
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