A resident of Greater Noida was arrested on Tuesday after police discovered that he was illegally growing cannabis inside his apartment in a housing society, officials said.
Rahul Chaudhary, an English graduate from Meerut, was found cultivating various types of cannabis in planters on the 10th floor of his flat, equipped with a sophisticated cultivation setup, the police reported.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Greater Noida) Saad Miya Khan stated that 80 cannabis plants, along with over 2 kg of the drug, were seized from Chaudhary’s apartment.
The accused had been growing cannabis for approximately six months, reportedly inspired by web series and crime dramas, the DCP added.
Chaudhary was apprehended near the P-3 roundabout in the Beta-2 area by officers from the local Beta-2 and Ecotech-1 police stations, with support from the district’s Anti-Narcotics Team, Khan confirmed.
A subsequent raid on his apartment, located at Flat No. 1001, Tower 5, Parsvnath Panorama, resulted in the seizure of 2.070 kg of cannabis and 163.4 grams of premium ‘OG’ cannabis.
“The accused had employed advanced aeroponic techniques, which he learned online, to grow cannabis in a fully controlled environment,” DCP Khan explained to the media.
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Chaudhary had invested in specialised equipment to regulate the flat’s temperature, lighting, and humidity, creating ideal conditions for cultivating cannabis without soil, he added.
The DCP further revealed that Chaudhary allegedly sourced cannabis seeds from international websites and communicated with buyers using encrypted messaging platforms to evade detection. He also used the dark web for his activities.
“The setup cost between Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 per plant, producing high-quality cannabis that sold for more than Rs 60,000 per 30-gram yield,” Khan noted.
The police confiscated various fertilisers, pesticides, packaging materials, and digital scales during the raid, indicating the operation was well-organised, the officer said.
A case has been filed against Chaudhary under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and further legal proceedings are ongoing, Khan confirmed.
An in-depth investigation into the accused’s network and connections is also underway, he added.
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