Mahasamund, May 2: In a significant operation, the Anti-Narcotic Task Force and Sarayapali police have uncovered a major interstate cannabis trafficking network in Mahasamund district, Chhattisgarh. Four suspects, including two women, have been arrested.
According to police officials, the authorities seized property worth ₹3.15 lakh, including two motorcycles and two mobile phones, used in the trafficking. The cannabis was intended to be smuggled from Odisha to the Devalbhata village in the Sarayapali area. The accused were preparing to package the cannabis into smaller units for local distribution.
The operation was initiated following precise information received from a tip-off on April 30, 2026. The tip indicated that individuals from Odisha would be arriving with cannabis for trade in the Sarayapali area. Consequently, the police set up surveillance near the village of Arjunda. Shortly after, four individuals arrived on two separate motorcycles, each carrying one male and one female, with a bag containing suspicious items.
As one suspect began transferring the contents of the bag to another, police swiftly moved in and apprehended all four. A search revealed 10 kilograms and 270 grams of cannabis inside the bag. Following this, cases were registered against the suspects under Section 20(B) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Shankar Behera (45) and Chanchal Behera (30) from Devalbhata village, and Kapil Bakul (23) and Rashmi Bakul (20) from Talmalka village, Boudh district, Odisha.
Police officials stated that ongoing checking operations are being conducted in the district. Over the past three months, authorities have seized a total of 5,779.831 kilograms of cannabis in 81 cases, leading to the arrest of 213 suspects, including 53 from Chhattisgarh and 160 from other states. Officials emphasized that strict action against drug trafficking will continue.
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