The Mumbai Police arrested two people and seized 1,800 kg of ganja worth Rs 3.6 crores in one of the biggest narcotics seizures in recent times.
The breakthrough was made by the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of the Crime Branch-CID of Mumbai Police. A truck has been seized by the ANC’s Ghatkopar unit from the Eastern Express Highway.
“This is one of the biggest seizures. We were on it for weeks...there was surveillance, technical intelligence and chasing,” Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Milind Bharambe said.
The entire operation was being regularly overseen by Mumbai Police chief Parambir Singh.
The source of Ganja was Ganjam district of Orissa and was being sent by Laxmikant Pradhan, who is at large.
Pradhan used to send Ganja to Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Bhiwandi, Vasai-Virar areas along with Maharashtra’s Pune and Solapur districts and Surat in neighbouring Gujarat.
The transactions were in cash and hawala, the ANC investigations have revealed.
“The drugs were hidden in consignment of coconut and came from Orissa via Andhra Pradesh,” said Bharambe, adding detailed investigations are in progress vis-a-vis the inter-state Ganja racket.
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