What initially appeared on social media as an inspiring tale of wildlife rescue has taken a disturbing turn, with Chhattisgarh Police busting a Rs2.6 crore ganja trafficking racket allegedly led by a man who projected himself online as a snake rescuer and wildlife conservationist.
The crackdown was carried out on Friday under Operation Nishchay, during which police seized 520 kg of ganja and arrested nine accused from Odisha and Maharashtra. Investigators uncovered a well-organised inter-state drug supply chain that relied on multiple routes and local contacts to transport narcotics across state borders.
The prime accused, Akash Jadhav, a resident of Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar district, had built a significant social media following through videos showcasing snake rescues and wildlife awareness. Police allege that behind this public persona, Jadhav played a key role in coordinating ganja consignments from Odisha to Maharashtra.
The case came to light following specific intelligence inputs about a major narcotics shipment bound for Maharashtra. Acting on the tip-off, teams from the Anti-Narcotics Task Force and Mahasamund district police intercepted the network, leading to the seizure of drugs valued at approximately Rs2.6 crore.
Meanwhile, concerns have been raised over possible links between narcotics trafficking and illegal wildlife trade. Advocate Pawan Sharma, founder and president of the Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW), said that illegal exchange of snake species has existed among certain snake handlers for decades.
“There has been information in the past about king cobras and other protected species being brought to Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai, as per Forest Department sources,” Sharma said. He added that wildlife trafficking is often linked with organised crimes such as narcotics smuggling, arms trade, hawala operations and underworld networks, calling for a multi-jurisdictional task force to tackle such crimes effectively.
Mumbai-based wildlife enthusiast Anand Mohite also urged authorities to probe possible wildlife trafficking angles in the case. He noted that both ganja and king cobras are allegedly trafficked from Odisha, and said he had requested senior police officials in Chhattisgarh to examine these links.
Police stated that the racket had been operational for at least a year and had moved several consignments during this period. Further investigation is underway to identify additional associates and uncover the full extent of the network.
