In a major drug bust, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch successfully seized 194 kg of marijuana worth Rs42 lakh from a warehouse in the Vatva GIDC area on Wednesday morning. Seven individuals were arrested in connection with the operation, which involved a well-coordinated surveillance effort by the police.
The arrested suspects have been identified as Manikandan Mudaliar (47), Kumar Arun Pandey (30), Sanjay Shahu (36), Susanta Gouda (34), Ajay Tufan (27), Labha Gouda (42), and Sandeep Kumar Shah (23). The Crime Branch had received a tip-off earlier today about a large consignment of marijuana set to be delivered to a warehouse in the Vatva GIDC area.
Acting on the intelligence, a team of Crime Branch officers set up surveillance near the warehouses at Krish Industrial Park. They spotted a truck with Odisha registration entering the premises and stopping near Warehouse No. 4. The officers observed the suspects unloading parcels from the truck and confirmed their suspicion. They immediately raided the warehouse, apprehending all seven individuals and seizing the drug consignment.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Bharat Patel, confirmed the seizure of approximately 194 kg of marijuana, which was valued at Rs42 lakh in the market. He mentioned, “Seven individuals involved in the case have been arrested, with two hailing from Odisha, one from Bihar, and the remaining suspects from the Vatva GIDC area.”
The investigation had been ongoing for over a month, with authorities suspecting a larger network involved in the illegal drug trade. Patel emphasized that further investigations would reveal more details about the broader syndicate behind the operation. According to officials, the seized consignment originated from Ganjam village in Odisha and was intended for distribution within Gujarat.
The Crime Branch’s swift action highlights the ongoing efforts to dismantle drug trafficking operations in the region. Investigations are continuing as authorities work to identify and apprehend other individuals involved in the illegal drug trade.