Bhubaneswar: Hydroponic marijuana from Thailand, considered ‘poor man’s cocaine’, has become a preferred choice for rave parties in Bhubaneswar due to its affordability and cocaine-like hallucinogenic effect, according to Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officers.DRI sleuths caught four flyers from Bangkok at the city airport with a total of 40kg of hydroponic marijuana on July 29 and Saturday. DRI officers said the hydroponic variant, which is grown without soil, contains 30% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) compared to 3% in regular marijuana. “The elevated THC content produces cocaine-like hallucinogenic effects, making it particularly attractive to party-goers. We are concerned about the growing trend and have intensified surveillance to curb its distribution in the city,” a senior DRI officer told TOI on the condition of anonymity. DRI sleuths plan to bring the four arrested carriers on remand so that they can interrogate the accused and obtain details about their Odisha conduit, peddlers and the modus operandi being followed to distribute the drugs to consumers.“We have identified some persons in the Laxmi Sagar area, and they have a network of peddlers. Regarding places in Bangkok where the marijuana is processed, we have overseas personnel who are on the job to trace those locations. There should be awareness among people about the health hazards of the hydroponic marijuana that is available for use in parties. We will also take local help to catch small-time peddlers,” the DRI officer added. The agency, through police assistance, may keep a watch on parties.Officers also said that whenever marijuana smuggling was detected in airports and other places in the recent past, its origin was traced to Bangkok. Passengers carrying the contraband managed to escape mechanical scanners and security personnel in Thailand. “Whether the handlers in Bangkok are in collusion with airport staff there is not yet ascertained,” he said.From interrogation of the accused,, it will also be ascertained who the main traders in Bangkok and Bhubaneswar are and which hotels they mostly prefer to stay in.
