The Nagpur Rural police have successfully dismantled an organized interstate opium trafficking network, confiscating nearly 34 kilograms of high-quality opium valued at over Rs 1.68 crore in Jharkhand following a 96-hour operation. The key accused, Manish Kumar Ambika Prasad (46), a hotel and dhaba owner in Jharkhand, has been arrested. Sources reveal that Prasad is the younger brother of a police officer and also serves as a police mitra (volunteer).
Modus Operandi of the Network
Investigators have uncovered that the network leverages hotel and dhaba owners to supply opium to long-distance truck drivers transporting freight across India. The case originated on May 20 when the anti-narcotics squad of the Nagpur Rural police intercepted truck driver Harvansh Ram near the Udasa Udan Bridge on the Umred–Nagpur road. The police allegedly discovered 237 grams of opium worth Rs 1 lakh, along with a mobile phone, cash, and a vehicle. A case was subsequently registered by the Umred police.
Investigation and Arrest
Superintendent of Police Harssh A Poddar and Additional SP Anil Mhaske formed a specialized team to trace backward and forward linkages. Utilizing technical intelligence, interrogation, and surveillance, the team identified a supplier operating in the Simdega district of Jharkhand. On May 25, the police raided the Bhandartoli area of Simdega and arrested Prasad. During searches of his residence and an open plot in front of his house, officers recovered 34 kilograms of fresh opium hidden in a trench. They also seized Rs 23 lakh in cash, an electronic weighing scale, plastic bags, rubber bands, and a mobile handset, bringing the total seizure value to Rs 2.25 crore.
Emerging Trafficking Hub in Jharkhand
Police believe that Jharkhand is emerging as a new trafficking hub and suspect poppy cultivation in nearby areas. Traditionally, opium trafficking routes have been linked to the Rajasthan–Madhya Pradesh–Punjab corridor, but traffickers are now shifting their focus to eastern India. According to investigators, suppliers route opium to Jharkhand-based dhaba owners, who then pass it to truckers. The contraband is exchanged at dhabas and transported under the cover of goods to demand centers in Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
Ongoing Surveillance and Legal Action
The Nagpur Rural police and the Local Crime Branch, led by Assistant Police Inspector Ankush Mane, have intensified surveillance of transport hubs, dhabas, and trucking routes. They have warned of strict action under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The operation marks a significant breakthrough in curbing the illicit drug trade in the region.
