'Zombie' THC vapes seized for first time in Gujarat

Surat: The state monitoring cell (SMC) of Gujarat Police seized 20 ‘zombie' vapes, valued at Rs 1 lakh each, after raiding a house in Vansda town of Navsari district.

Officials said these vapes, seized for the first time in Gujarat, contain concentrated tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an intoxicant extracted from cannabis. Two people — Milan Dhangar, a computer graduate, and Tanmay Patel — have been arrested. Police also recovered hybrid ganja worth Rs 8 lakh from the accused.

According to sources, SMC police inspector C H Panara received a tip-off that Dhangar who allegedly selling narcotics at Chapaldhara village of Vansda taluka. After verifying the intelligence, Panara and his team conducted a raid on a house in Vachlu Faliyu on Thursday. They found 20 vapes that had THC refills. These vapes, popularly called ‘zombie' cigarettes, induce an intense high in users.

The investigation found that Dhangar had sourced these devices via the dark web and sold them for Rs 1 lakh each. A Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) graduate, Dhangar was allegedly addicted to drugs for several years. His search for narcotics online had led him to the ‘zombie' vapes.

Police said Dhangar catered to a high-profile clientele, having sold such vapes to drug users in the past. These THC vapes are more common in western countries. While vapes seized earlier in Gujarat typically had flavoured nicotine, this is the first case involving e-cigarettes filled with THC, police said.

In addition to the 20 vapes, police confiscated 80g of hybrid ganja from Dhangar and his associate, Tanmay Patel. The ganja was allegedly supplied by a Vapi resident named Atif. Both accused have been booked under the NDPS Act and The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act. B H Rathod is the investigating officer.

3,000 puffs in each unit

Sources said these vapes are primarily used at parties. Each device provides between 2,500 and 3,000 puffs, making it attractive for large groups. The accused were planning to expand their supply network to Navsari and Surat.

What is THC?

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the key psychoactive compound in cannabis. In low doses, it acts as a mild sedative, while higher doses can produce hallucinogenic effects. THC also has recognized medicinal uses. It is often prescribed to help control nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing chemotherapy.