A 46-year-old man from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, has been arrested for cultivating cannabis in his rented apartment in Greater Noida and selling it on the dark web. Rahul Choudhary, who was living alone in a 10th-floor flat in Parsvnath Panorama Society, set up an elaborate indoor nursery to grow cannabis, equipped with specialized lighting, temperature control systems, and other paraphernalia. His arrest and subsequent raid of his residence took the police by surprise, with officers describing the setup as something straight out of a Hollywood film.
The arrest came after the police received a tip-off regarding an illegal cannabis transaction in Greater Noida. DCP Saad Miya Khan said they had information that Choudhary was planning to hand over a consignment to a customer. Acting on the information, the police set up a trap at a roundabout near Kachnar Estate on Tuesday morning. Choudhary appeared around 10:30 a.m. and, as soon as he handed over a packet to a customer, the police swooped in and arrested him.
Upon questioning, Choudhary revealed that he had been cultivating the cannabis himself inside his rented apartment. This led to an immediate raid by a team of a dozen policemen, who were taken aback by what they found behind the apartment door. Inspector Anuj Kumar, part of the raiding team, described the scene as surreal. “We thought there would be a few cannabis plants in a flower pot,” said Kumar. “What we saw was a full spectrum of artificial lights, temperature-regulating machines, and cannabis plants meticulously numbered by their varieties. It was like a scene straight out of a Hollywood movie.”
In the raid, the police discovered around 80 cannabis plants, estimated to be worth between Rs 50 lakh to 60 lakh. They also found quantities of ganja, OG (a type of high-quality weed), various chemicals, fertilizers, and other cultivation tools. According to police officials, Choudhary had managed to recreate ideal growing conditions for the cannabis plants. He used specialized artificial lights, and had even set his air conditioner to maintain the perfect room temperature for plant growth.
DCP Khan revealed that Choudhary holds a postgraduate degree in English and once ran an eatery in Greater Noida. However, his eatery shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led him to explore other avenues of income. It was during this period that Choudhary ventured into the dark web and began reading books and watching films about cannabis cultivation. Eventually, he started growing cannabis in his flat.
Choudhary, who had been estranged from his wife and two children, told the police that he began cultivating cannabis four months ago, and this was his first harvest. He ordered seeds online from a foreign website called Seedsman and made the payment through PayPal. The cost of growing each cannabis plant was estimated to be between Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000, and he planned to sell the plants for Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 each through the dark web.
“He told us that he arranged customers through the dark web by meeting them in various chat rooms,” said a police officer involved in the investigation. Choudhary used his knowledge of the dark web to maintain anonymity and connect with potential buyers, making it difficult for authorities to trace his activities.
During the raid, police recovered 2.070 grams of illegal cannabis and 163.4 grams of OG from Choudhary’s residence. The accused has been booked under Section 20 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, which pertains to the illegal cultivation and sale of cannabis.
DCP Khan emphasized the elaborate setup and the effort that Choudhary had put into cultivating the cannabis. “The plants were numbered as per their type, and he had gone to great lengths to maintain the conditions required for their growth,” Khan said. According to the police, Choudhary used full spectrum grow lights, special fertilizers, and meticulous temperature control to ensure that his cannabis plants thrived in the indoor environment.
The police have said that they are investigating further to determine the extent of Choudhary’s operations, including identifying his customers and suppliers. The discovery of such a setup in a rented flat in a residential society has raised concerns about similar illegal activities that might be taking place undetected. Authorities are urging residents to report any suspicious activities in their neighborhoods.
This case highlights the use of technology and the dark web in facilitating illegal activities such as drug trafficking. The dark web has become a haven for illicit transactions, and the police face significant challenges in monitoring and tracking activities that occur in these anonymous spaces.
The successful raid and arrest of Choudhary were the result of quick action by the Greater Noida police, who acted swiftly on the tip-off and apprehended the accused before he could distribute the consignment. The authorities have commended the officers involved for their vigilance and have assured the public that they will continue to take stringent action against illegal drug cultivation and trafficking in the area.
Meanwhile, Choudhary remains in custody, and further investigations are ongoing. The police are also exploring the possibility of other individuals being involved in the operation and are analyzing data from Choudhary’s devices to gather more information on his network. Authorities believe that his activities could have been part of a larger syndicate operating through the dark web.
Residents of Parsvnath Panorama Society were stunned to learn about the illegal cannabis nursery in their midst. Many expressed shock and concern over the incident, with some calling for stricter checks on tenants and rental properties. The incident has also highlighted the need for increased awareness and vigilance among residents to prevent such activities from taking place unnoticed.