Noida police bust e-commerce-style ‘ganja’ trafficking ring

Police in Noida have uncovered an app-enabled narcotics operation that used courier platforms, UPI payments and counterfeit e-commerce packaging to discreetly deliver high-grade ganja across the NCR, exposing major security gaps in gig-economy logistics.

Noida Police have dismantled an elaborate narcotics network that blended traditional street-level drug scouting with the anonymity of app-based logistics. The operation came to light on November 29 following the arrest of alleged kingpin Yogendra Pratap Singh and two associates. According to investigators, the group leveraged courier services such as Porter to transport cannabis disguised as regular parcels, allowing the traffickers to remain distant from the point of interception.

Customers were initially approached near colleges and office areas. Once interest was confirmed, communication shifted to mobile calls and delivery was arranged through on-demand courier platforms. Payments were made via UPI apps, giving the transactions a legitimate appearance.

What made the operation particularly difficult to detect was the packaging. The gang used boxes, tapes and labels closely resembling those of established e-commerce brands, complete with fabricated invoices. Officers said the parcels appeared identical to routine shipments handled daily across the National Capital Region.

Unwitting delivery riders became a protective shield

Police noted that the most strategic layer of the scheme involved using third-party delivery riders unaware of the contents they were carrying. This created an insulated buffer, ensuring traffickers stayed removed from immediate suspicion in case a parcel was intercepted.

Investigators added that gig workers, dependent on fluctuating daily bookings, were unknowingly exposed to legal jeopardy. The case highlights how criminal groups are adapting to modern logistics systems that prioritise speed and anonymity.

Premium cannabis, interstate links and a repeat offender

Officers recovered 10.1 kilograms of high-quality marijuana worth nearly ₹30 lakh. The seized stock included premium strains such as OG, Mango and Shillong, priced far above typical street-grade cannabis. Police say the supply chain stretched across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Shillong and Nepal, relying on established smuggling routes.

Singh, previously employed in Noida’s private sector, allegedly identified growing demand for cannabis and built a delivery network over several years. He had been arrested earlier on similar charges and was out on bail at the time of the recent raid.

All three accused have been booked under the NDPS Act. Police are now mapping the broader syndicate, including suppliers and repeat customers, as the case underscores the evolving challenge of policing criminal activity embedded within everyday digital services.