Ganja
Nagpur: In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, 240 kg ganja worth Rs 1.2 crore was seized in Gadchiroli district when the consignment was being transported from Odisha to Beed. The operation was executed on Oct 31. The total value of the seized contraband, vehicles and mobile phones is estimated at Rs 1.46 crore. A case was registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act at Pendhri police outpost on Nov 1.
Subsequent questioning revealed the movement of a pickup carrying ganja and another car with prospective buyers.
Police seized three vehicles, including an SUV, pickup and car, besides eight mobile phones,” said SP Gadchiroli M Ramesh. Police said the escort vehicle had alerted the occupants of the ganja-laden vehicle, following which the suspects dumped the consignment in a forest area and tried to escape. Gadchiroli police, in a joint operation by Local Crime Branch (LCB) and Gatta police, also arrested eight persons. “The eight arrested accused are from Gadchiroli and Chhattisgarh. Police first intercepted an SUV with three occupants. On questioning the occupants, police suspected that the vehicle was escorting another vehicle carrying narcotics. Police intercepted the suspects and recovered the contraband. All the arrested accused have been remanded in police custody for three days.