Bengaluru couple working as drug mules held with ₹18.6-crore worth hydro ganja

A Bengaluru-based mates moving arsenic mules for an planetary cause syndicate managed to smuggle 18 kg of hydro ganja worthy ₹18.6 crore into the metropolis done Kempegowda International Airport by concealing the contraband successful nutrient packets wrong their backpacks. They were arrested hours aboriginal by the Mahalakshmi Layout constabulary portion waiting to present the consignment to their handler connected Sunday (November 30, 2025).

The accused person been identified arsenic Shafiuddin Sheikh, a car mechanic, and his woman Sara Simran, residents of Kammanahalli. According to investigators, the mates had travelled to Bangkok connected tourer visas and returned with the narcotics.

A constabulary serviceman portion of the probe said the mates were offered escaped travel, accommodation, and further outgo to smuggle the drugs. The contraband had been concealed successful 9 nutrient packets, each weighing astir 2 kilograms. “They had nary transgression record, which is 1 of the superior reasons they were chosen arsenic mules,” the serviceman added.

What has peculiarly alarmed investigators is however the duo managed to evade stringent checks by Customs officials, who were operating nether enhanced information protocols issued by the authorities successful the aftermath of accrued cause smuggling up of New Year festivities. Customs officers person been pursuing a elaborate acceptable of guidelines connected profiling and screening passengers, and connected paper, the couple’s inheritance acceptable the parameters.

However, acting connected credible intelligence, the metropolis constabulary tracked the mates soon aft their accomplishment and intercepted them earlier the consignment could beryllium handed implicit to section contacts.

A squad led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Mary Shailaja has seized 2 mobile phones from the accused and is analysing connection records to place others progressive successful the network. The mates has been booked nether the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and remanded successful to 10-day constabulary custody for further investigation.

City constabulary commissioner Seemant Kumar Sigh appreciated the constabulary squad and said that metropolis constabulary person cracked down connected cause cases and seized ₹160 halfway worthy drugs this twelvemonth truthful far.