Rich youths hooked on hydro ganja; sold at Rs 10,000 per gram

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

A new trend of consuming hydro ganja, a high-potency imported cannabis, has emerged among students of reputed colleges and youths from affluent localities. The crime branch arrested Rajveer Birag (20) and Om Shinde (23) on Tuesday, seizing 285 grams. A case was registered at the Kranti Chowk police station, and the duo was remanded till March 13.

Police had received reliable information that imported hydro ganja was being sold in the city. Acting on the instructions of police commissioner Pravin Pawar and DCP Ratnakar Navle, a team led by police inspector Gajanan Kalyankar laid a trap near the iron bridge in the Cantonment area. The duo was caught red-handed. Police recovered eight packets of ganja and a digital weighing scale from Rajveer’s bag.

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Educated, affluent backgrounds

• Rajveer: first-year computer engineering student, Pune.

• Om: MBA graduate, Pune; staying in the city six months.

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Orders via Snapchat and Telegram; eight youths funded purchases

Friends pooled money to fund purchases. Orders placed through a Snapchat profile “Jolly,” with trips to Thane, Mumbai, and Navi Mumbai to collect the drug. Bought at Rs 5,000–Rs 6,000 per gram, sold for Rs 10,000–Rs 15,000 per gram to students and elites.

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What is hydro ganja?

• Grown hydroponically in nutrient-rich water, indoors, with LED/HID lights controlling temperature, humidity, and CO₂.

• THC content: 30–45% vs. 5–15% in regular cannabis.

• Effects: rapid euphoria, relaxation, laughter, hallucinations, memory loss, dizziness, increased heart rate, and in extreme cases, stroke or death.

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Price comparison

• Regular ganja: Rs 1,000–Rs 3,000 per 10g

• Hydro ganja: Rs 5,000–Rs 15,000 per 10g

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Smuggled from abroad

Hydro ganja is mainly imported. In March, Bengaluru police seized Rs 6 crore worth from Bangkok. In July 2025, CM Devendra Fadnavis expressed concern over rising hydro ganja use among youths.