Nagpur: In a significant action under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the Sonegaon Police have seized 10.28 kilograms of ganja worth over Rs 2 lakh from a suspicious parcel at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport’s cargo terminal in Nagpur.
The incident took place between 10:55 pm on May 3 and 3:15 am on May 4, when Yogendra Sudhakar Borikar (31), Security Manager at the airport’s cargo division and a resident of Arya Nagar, Koradi Road, alerted authorities about a suspicious khaki cardboard box. The parcel was marked as being shipped from Rahul Fitness, Chapadia LG Showroom Road, Kantabanji, Odisha to Rahul Fitness, Lal Imli Choraha, Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, with Order ID T174Y5G8881F9H7963.
Suspecting the presence of narcotic substances, Borikar informed senior officials. Under the guidance of DCP Lohit Matani and ACP Ashok Shelke, and led by Senior Police Inspector Nitin Magar of Sonegaon Police Station, the parcel was examined using Domestic Screening Machine No. 01 in the cargo extension area of the airport.
Upon opening the parcel, officers discovered a rexine bag labeled as Vimal Pan Masala, containing damp, greenish-brown plant material including flowers, seeds, leaves, and stems, all emitting a strong odor. The material was identified as ganja, weighing a total of 10.28 kg, with an estimated market value of Rs 2,00,560 (at Rs 20,000 per kilogram). The contraband was seized and taken into custody.
An offence has been registered under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(B) of the NDPS Act at Sonegaon Police Station against the individuals connected to the sender and recipient addresses mentioned on the parcel. Further investigation is underway.
This successful operation was carried out under the supervision of Commissioner of Police Ravinder Kumar Singal, Joint CP Nissar Tamboli, Additional CP Shivaji Rathod, DCP Lohit Matani, and ACP Ashok Shelke. The investigation team included Senior PI Nitin Magar, API Achal Kapoor, PSI Sanjay Avachite, PSI Pradeep Pisal, constables Raju Bhoyar, Rajesh Masram, Datta Kumbhare, and Pradeep Bhise from Sonegaon Police Station.
The police have praised the coordinated effort and swift action that led to the seizure of narcotics and prevention of illegal trafficking through air cargo.
