The Gandhinagar Special Operations Group (SOG) apprehended a 25-year-old man, Ankit Kakkad from Rajkot, after seizing hybrid ganja worth over Rs 26 lakh from a luxury apartment on the GIFT City campus. The arrest exposed a narcotics supply operation allegedly run from a rented high-rise flat.
Kakkad had rented the apartment at Rs 3,000 per day via an online marketplace. According to police, the operation came to light on March 11 after the SOG received intelligence that a man was storing and selling hybrid ganja in the Daboda police station area for financial gain. Following surveillance, the SOG raided the flat.
During the search, officers recovered 0.7 kg of hybrid ganja, valued at around Rs 26.11 lakh, stored in a branded bag in the bedroom. Forensic testing confirmed the substance as ganja. Additional items seized included an electronic weighing scale, two premium smartphones, Rs 4,000 in cash, and the storage bag, bringing the total value of seized items to approximately Rs 26.65 lakh.
Investigators noted that Kakkad had booked the apartment on March 10, making payment online. Authorities suspect the flat was being used as a temporary base for storing and distributing narcotics. The arrest comes amid increased scrutiny of GIFT City, following state regulations permitting limited liquor consumption in designated areas, attracting business travelers and visitors.
