In a significant crackdown on interstate narcotics trafficking, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in Nagpur has seized a massive consignment of over 522 kilograms of suspected cannabis, commonly known as ganja. The interception occurred on Sunday at the Bhagimahari toll plaza near Saoner in Nagpur district.
Major Haul Concealed in Household Goods
Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers flagged and searched a truck registered in Madhya Pradesh during routine surveillance. The narcotics, with an estimated street value of approximately Rs 2.6 crore, were ingeniously concealed among a cargo of home appliances and household items. The contraband was hidden beneath coolers, fans, blankets, jackets, and other domestic goods to avoid detection during its transit from Odisha to Madhya Pradesh.
Couriers Arrested, Larger Network Probed
The two individuals travelling with the truck were immediately arrested under the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Preliminary investigations reveal that the arrested persons were acting as couriers. They were reportedly awaiting instructions from an unidentified contact in Madhya Pradesh for the final delivery point and possessed limited knowledge of the broader syndicate's operations.
Authorities had been tracking the vehicle and a mobile number associated with one of the accused for several weeks. The truck's movement from Odisha was under continuous surveillance until its eventual interception at Saoner.
Nagpur: A Strategic Transit Hub for Drug Syndicates
This seizure underscores the sophisticated methods employed by drug networks to smuggle contraband across state borders. Investigators believe the seized cannabis was destined for a kingpin based in Madhya Pradesh, who allegedly supplies ganja to various parts of central India, including Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.
The Madhya Pradesh-based operator is considered a crucial link in a distribution chain that originates from remote cultivation areas in Odisha. The DRI is now analysing call data records, financial transactions, and other digital footprints to identify the suppliers in Odisha and the recipients in Madhya Pradesh.
This operation highlights Nagpur's vulnerability as a transit point due to its strategic location and extensive network of national highways, making it a preferred route for smuggling ganja from eastern India to central and northern markets. Sources confirm that similar targeted operations are ongoing to dismantle other elements of this interstate syndicate.
