25 Crypto Wallets Holding Rs 4.5 Crore Seized in Hydroponic Weed Case: Pune Police
Pune, 26th December 2025: Pune city police investigating an illegal drug network, including hydroponic marijuana, have uncovered 25 cryptocurrency wallets holding an estimated $5 lakh (around Rs 4.5 crore) connected to drug sales in Pune and across Maharashtra.
“These crypto wallets were active on the dark web and traced to Scandinavian countries,” DCP Somay Munde said.
Authorities have approached the Financial Intelligence Unit of India (FIU) to determine how the funds were converted into digital currency and which bank accounts were involved. “This investigation will focus on the financial dimension of the operation and track how the suspects rotated the money. Efforts are on to freeze these wallets,” Munde added.
The police are also coordinating with law enforcement agencies in Bhutan and Thailand to track two suspects based in these countries, who allegedly supplied raw material for the drug production.
The probe has already led to the arrest of an engineering student, two MBA graduates, and two men from Mumbai, along with the seizure of drugs worth Rs 3.5 crore. The arrests followed the bust of an illegal drug processing unit operating from a flat in Hinjawadi, which was producing hydroponic marijuana.
Investigations revealed that the two MBA graduates had quit their jobs to set up the illicit operation, employing Artificial Intelligence tools to aid in production. Police said the suspects extensively used cryptocurrencies, the dark web, and social media platforms to sell and distribute the drugs across the city. Two additional men from Kurla and Ghatkopar in Mumbai were also arrested in connection with the network.
Munde explained, “We identified two Bhutan-based suspects who were sending drugs to Pune disguised in LED strips. The drug was hidden inside the bulbs of these strips. The courier packages were seized, and the senders’ addresses were recorded.”
He further added, “The drugs were routed from Thailand to Bhutan, and we have also traced the Thailand-based supplier.” Police confirmed that cryptocurrencies were used for both buying and selling the drugs, complicating the financial trail but providing digital evidence for further action.
