Nagpur: In a major anti-narcotics operation, the Social Security Branch (SSB) and NDPS squad of the Nagpur Crime Branch seized more than 41 kilograms of ganja and arrested two persons under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The action was carried out under the jurisdiction of Yashodhara Nagar Police Station in Nagpur city.
According to police officials, the operation was conducted between 3:00 am and 6:30 am on January 26 near Konkan Agro Marine Industries, in the Wanjra Layout Small Factory Area of Yashodhara Nagar. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the team intercepted a suspicious truck and carried out a search in the presence of panch witnesses.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mohammad Shamsad Imtiyaz Ahmed (40), a truck driver and owner from Sangharsh Nagar, Nagpur, and Shah Rukh Khan Iqbal Khan (26), a resident of Kundanlal Gupta Nagar, Vitabhatti area, Yashodhara Nagar. Police said both were working in coordination to transport the contraband.
During the search, officials recovered 41.846 kilograms of ganja valued at approximately ₹10.34 lakh. The contraband was concealed in a specially built compartment behind the truck’s cabin. The police also seized an Eicher truck worth ₹20 lakh and three mobile phones valued at ₹21,000, taking the total value of seized property to ₹30.55 lakh.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused had allegedly travelled to Redakul village in Sambalpur district of Odisha to procure the ganja. The consignment was reportedly arranged by a wanted anccused identified as Sonu Khan of Vitabhatti Chowk, Nagpur, along with two other associates from Odisha who are currently absconding. Police believe the arrested duo had conspired to transport the narcotics to Nagpur for further distribution.
A case has been registered under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(2)(c), and 29 of the NDPS Act, and further investigation is underway to trace the absconding suspects and uncover the wider drug supply network.
The operation was carried out by a team from the Social Security Branch led by Police Inspector Gajanan Gulhane and API Shivaji Nanaware, along with officers and personnel including Sheshrao Raut, Ashwin Mange, Sameer Sheikh, Kunal Masram, Kunal Bodakhe, Gamesh Jogekar, Vivek Adhao, and Nitin Salunkhe.
Police officials stated that intensified action against interstate drug trafficking networks will continue in the coming days.