Raipur Police have arrested two alleged drug suppliers who were attempting to sell heroin sourced from Punjab in the state capital, officials said on Friday. The arrests were made near a tea stall in the Amanaka area, underlining the persistent challenge of narcotics trafficking in urban pockets of Chhattisgarh.
The accused were identified as Rakesh Kumar (42), a resident of Punjab’s Firozpur district, and Harbhajan Singh (40), a resident of Kabir Nagar in Raipur. Police confirmed that Harbhajan Singh has a prior criminal record and had earlier been booked in multiple cases.
The arrests were carried out on January 16, 2026, following a tip-off received by the Amanaka police station. Acting swiftly, senior officers formed a special team that conducted a raid near Veer Singh tea stall on the New Bypass, Bilaspur Road, where the suspects were found waiting with a motorcycle for potential customers.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted to bringing heroin from Punjab for sale in Raipur. A legally conducted search led to the recovery of 15.32 grams of heroin from Rakesh Kumar and 9.95 grams from Harbhajan Singh, taking the total seizure to 25.27 grams, valued at approximately Rs2.67 lakh. The motorcycle used in the operation was also seized.
Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Lal Umed Singh said the arrests were made under Operation Nishchay, an ongoing campaign to crack down on drug trafficking. He added that strict action would continue against those involved in the illegal narcotics trade.
Police said investigations are ongoing to trace the wider supply network, including the source of the drugs in Punjab and potential buyers in Raipur. Further arrests are likely as the probe progresses.
Officials noted that in 2025 alone, Raipur Police seized narcotics worth over Rs2.81 crore under Operation Nishchay, highlighting the scale of the drug menace and the intensified enforcement efforts to curb it.
