NOIDA, Nov 13: A 46-year-old man, Rahul Chaudhury, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly cultivating a cannabis garden in his apartment at Parsvnath Panorama, Greater Noida, near the Pi-3 roundabout. Police seized 80 cannabis plants worth Rs 60 lakh, along with fertilizers, seeds, and other chemicals used for cultivation, as part of the ongoing Operation Prahar to combat drug trafficking in the area.
Chaudhury, who owned a food joint near Jagat Farm, had turned to cannabis farming after incurring significant losses during the pandemic and falling into depression. Over the past four months, he shifted from growing cannabis for personal use to a commercial operation, spending Rs 5,000-6,000 on each plant, which took around 110 days to mature. His setup included an air-conditioner to maintain ideal conditions and artificial lighting for photosynthesis, as he couldn’t open the windows for fear of attracting attention.
According to police, Chaudhury purchased the cannabis seeds from the foreign website Seedsman through PayPal and used the dark web to find customers. Although he was a postgraduate in English, Chaudhury taught himself how to grow cannabis by researching online and through social media. Initially, he grew a small amount for personal use but later expanded into large-scale cultivation. Chaudhury reportedly told his family he was engaged in organic farming to generate additional income.
