Illegal cannabis cultivation busted in Gujarat; cops seize drugs, arrest one

Gandhinagar/Sabarkantha, May 19 (IANS) The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (A.N.T.F.) of CID Crime and Railways carried out a raid in Gujarat’s Sabarkantha district, leading to the seizure of cannabis plants and processed contraband valued at approximately Rs 6.38 lakh, officials said on Tuesday.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs and under the supervision of senior police officers, a team led by Police Inspector R.V. Patel conducted a search operation in agricultural land and a residential property at Vinchi village in the Wadi area of Poshina taluka.

During the raid on May 17, the team recovered approximately 8.060 kilograms of green cannabis plants from cultivated land and 4.700 kilograms of dry cannabis from a residential premises.

The total estimated value of the seized contraband was stated to be Rs 6,38,000.

Police also detained one individual, identified as Makana Gamar, aged 53, a resident of Vinchi village in Poshina.

According to the officials, the operation was executed with the assistance of multiple personnel, including police inspectors, sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors, head constables, constables and technical experts.

The team also utilised surveillance inputs and technical intelligence to locate the illegal cultivation and storage.

Preliminary investigation suggested Gamar’s involvement in illegal cultivation and possession of narcotic substances under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

A case has been registered under relevant sections, including Sections 8(b)(c), 20(a), and 20(b)(1) and 20(b)(2)(b) of the NDPS Act.

Police said further investigation is being conducted jointly by A.N.T.F. officials and Kheroj Police Station to determine the source of cultivation, distribution network and any additional involvement of other individuals.

Recent A.N.T.F. operations in Gujarat have led to multiple major seizures and arrests across the state as part of intensified enforcement against drug networks.

In one of the significant actions earlier this year, units in Gandhinagar intercepted suspected traffickers and recovered nearly 12 kilograms of ganja worth around Rs six lakh after acting on specific intelligence inputs and conducting targeted surveillance operations, including vehicle interception and coordinated raids.

In another major Ahmedabad zone operation, A.N.T.F. teams carried out a raid at a residential premises in Bopal and seized a mix of narcotic substances, including methamphetamine, hybrid marijuana and cocaine, valued at over Rs 18 lakh, highlighting the unit’s continued focus on urban supply chains.

–IANS

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