Major Drug Bust in Chhattisgarh: 170.75 kg of Marijuana Seized, Four Arrested

Raipur, August 28: In a significant operation, authorities in Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund district have seized approximately 170.75 kilograms of marijuana, valued at around ₹8.5 million, hidden beneath broken glass and garbage in a mini truck. Four alleged drug traffickers were arrested in connection with the case.

Based on specific intelligence, Mahasamund police intercepted a suspicious mini truck near Maharaja Dhaba on National Highway 353 on Wednesday. Initially, the vehicle appeared to be filled with shattered glass and waste. However, a thorough search revealed the concealed marijuana underneath the debris.

According to police, the suspects employed this unusual method to evade detection and disguise the shipment as ordinary trash. The mini truck was reportedly driven by 25-year-old Ankit Kumar Yadav from Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh. During questioning, he disclosed that three accomplices were following him in a Swift car.

Police later stopped the car and apprehended 60-year-old Santosh Gupta from Bhadohi, 43-year-old Avinash Singh from Varanasi, and 37-year-old Shyam Prakash Soni, also from Varanasi.

Authorities stated that the suspects were transporting the marijuana from Baudhgarh in Odisha to Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh. The police seized the mini truck, valued at ₹1 million, the Swift car worth ₹200,000, a Nokia keypad mobile phone, and ₹3,670 in cash. The total estimated value of the confiscated items, including the illegal substances, is ₹9.7 million.

A case has been registered under Section 20(b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act at the Mahasamund police station. Further legal action is underway. Police noted that this operation was a result of precise intelligence and prompt coordinated action.