Two persons have been arrested for allegedly importing marijuana extracts from the USA and selling it in the country, the police said on Monday. The accused had been ordering contraband using the dark web, they said.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rajiv Ranjan said that the accused have been identified as Sahil Kadiyan (25) and Ridham Gulati (22). A total of 7.05 kg marijuana and 50 g of malana cream charas were seized from their possession.
Tip-off
The police said that they were informed that some people were involved in illegal import of marijuana, including shatters and cannabis wax from the USA. Acting on a tip-off that on December 12 Sahil and Ridham would come to a courier services branch in Moti Nagar to collect a consignment, the police laid a trap and arrested them after they took the delivery.
“During search, five cartons, including gift packs were found. When the gift packs were opened, three packets of 470 g each, all filled with marijuana, were found,” Mr. Ranjan said, adding that the accused’s 10-day police custody was sought to unearth the nexus.
The police said that on December 28, based on their disclosure statements, they seized one more carton with three packets of imported marijuana, 26 shatters and 50 g of cannabis wax from the courier service in Moti Nagar as it got delivered.
On Monday, the police said, three other cartons were seized from custom bonded area of a courier company at the IGI Airport. The cartons contained similar contraband.
Mr. Ranjan said that the accused had imported drugs for upcoming New Year parties. “Sahil started consuming charas and ganja about four years ago and used to procure the same from Subhash Nagar. He came in touch with a Model Town resident who told him about importing drugs from the USA using the dark web,” the officer said.
On dark web, one can use networks like Tor, but it can be accessed only with specific software, configurations, or authorisation. The payment for drugs is made in advance through bitcoins, identities remain anonymous and the address for shipment is shared.
The police said that cannabis extracts which include shatter, wax, errl, oil, resin or dabs are the latest trend. Marijuana wax, which looks like bee wax or earwax, costs ₹1 lakh per 50 g. Shatter looks like glass and costs ₹50,000 per 500 g.
Mr. Ranjan also said, “The seized contraband was packed in five layers of high-quality polythenes to evade detection from X-rays and perfumes were sprayed to conceal the smell of the contraband.”
