In a significant bust, the Surat Local Crime Branch (LCB) Zone-4 team arrested three individuals, including a rickshaw driver, for smuggling ganja near the Pandesara Daksheshwar Temple in Gujarat.
Acting on a tip-off, the police intercepted the suspects and seized over 6 kg of ganja, valued at approximately Rs1.80 lakh, along with the rickshaw and three mobile phones. The authorities have intensified their operations against narcotics smuggling in Surat, in line with their ongoing efforts to combat drug trade in the region.
The police official stated that after receiving intelligence about the rickshaw carrying a large quantity of ganja, a surveillance operation was set up, leading to the arrest of the suspects: Mohammad Wahab Aman, Rakib Sheikh, and Akbar alias Ballu. Upon searching the rickshaw, officers found the ganja concealed in a plastic bag.
In the investigation, it was revealed that Mohammad Wahab Aman was employed as a rickshaw driver for hire, while Rakib Sheikh was identified as the primary figure behind the smuggling operation. The police are continuing their investigation to trace the source and intended destination of the seized drugs.
Despite being arrested for this smuggling operation, none of the suspects had prior criminal records. The authorities are working on uncovering any further links to narcotics networks in the region.
The seizure of over 6 kg of ganja adds to Gujarat’s mounting challenges with the drug trade. Between 2018 and 2022, authorities in the state confiscated over 93,691 kg of various drugs, alongside numerous drug pills, liquid narcotics, and injections. In 2024 alone, drugs worth an estimated Rs6,450 crore were seized, highlighting the scale of narcotics trafficking in the state.
A notable 2024 operation saw the joint efforts of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Gujarat Police, and the Indian Navy, who seized nearly 700 kg of methamphetamine off the Gujarat coast, emphasizing the state’s ongoing battle against drug smuggling.
