Valsad (Gujarat), Aug 3 (IANS) The Special Operations Group (SOG) of Gujarat’s Valsad Police has seized 42.180 kg of cannabis valued at Rs 21.09 lakh that was allegedly being transported from Odisha to Silvassa, arresting one man and registering a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, police said on Monday.
According to the police, the operation was carried out following directions from senior officials and under the supervision of Valsad Superintendent of Police (SP) Yuvrajsinh Jadeja, who had instructed officers to intensify action against the illegal storage, sale and trafficking of narcotic substances and detect more NDPS offences in the district.
Acting on specific intelligence received by Assistant Head Constable Mohammadsafi Sulemanbhai and Assistant Police Constables Varunkumar Harishchandra and Mahendradan Julubha, a team from the SOG laid a watch near the old railway crossing road opposite Karishma Saree Wholesale shop, close to Geetanagar Police Chowky in Vapi.
The team, working under the supervision of Police Inspector D.D. Parmar and Police Sub-Inspector S.R. Suslade, intercepted and arrested Sanjay alias Sanjay Marwadi, 26.
He is currently residing at Flat No. 15, Pratibha Complex in Amli of Silvassa, and is originally from Bali village in Rajasthan’s Pali district. Police said the accused was found in possession of 42.180 kg of cannabis without any valid pass or permit.
The seized contraband has an estimated value of Rs 21.09 lakh. Officers also recovered a mobile phone worth Rs 10,000, cash amounting to Rs 3,300, and five bags allegedly used to transport the narcotic substance.
The total value of the seized property is estimated at around Rs 21.22 lakh. A case has been registered at Vapi Town Police Station under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(C) and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985.
Police said further investigation is underway to ascertain the source of the cannabis in Odisha, identify its intended recipients in Silvassa and determine whether others were involved in the alleged trafficking network.
Police records also show that the accused has a previous case registered under the NDPS Act at Bhilad Police Station in 2025 under Sections 8(c), 15(b) and 29.
–IANS
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