According to the Mumbai ANC, they received a tip off that a truck laden with drugs was arriving in Mumbai on February 12.
Pic via Vishal Singh
In a massive crackdown, Mumbai Crime Branch's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) has seized 1,800 kg of marijuana. The market value of the caught ganja (marijuana) is about Rs 3.5 crore. The consignment was brought from Odisha to Mumbai in a truck. The arrested accused were smuggling drugs under the guise of importing coconuts. According to preliminary inquiry, smugglers used to sell about 4,000 kilograms of ganja in Mumbai every month.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to the Mumbai ANC, they received a tip off that a truck laden with drugs was arriving in Mumbai on February 12. A team, led by police inspector Lata Sutar of ANC unit of Ghatkopar, was waiting for the truck on the Vikhroli highway. When the suspected truck arrived, cops initiated a check, and caught a truck carrying coconuts and drugs.
Joint Commissioner of Crime Branch, Milind Bharambe, told mid-day that the accused used to bring ganja in trucks from Odisha. He said that no one ever suspected as the drugs were covered by coconuts.
In this case, the police have so far arrested two accused, namely Akash Yadav (25) and Dinesh Saroj (26). Both of them were present in the truck. Three cases are registered against Yadav at different police stations. Bharambe said that during preliminary investigations, it was found that these accused supplied six tons of hemp in Maharashtra every month, and four tons of ganja was sold only in Mumbai.
The police are now looking for persons named, Sandeep Satpute and Laxmi Pradhan, in connection to this case. Satpute owns a Godown in Bhiwandi area and lives in Luis Wadi area of Thane. It is alleged that for five years, Satpute has been in involved in this racket.
The police also said that the accused used to hire different trucks every time to import coconuts. The truck was brought from the Jangam district of Odisha, where ganja is cultivated. This truck used to reach Bhiwandi in four days, and on the way, the drivers of the trucks were changed. The police officer told mid-day, "The truck has come to Mumbai via Solapur and Pune. The ganja loaded on this truck has also been landed in Solapur and Pune."
Milind Bharmbe said, "The kingpin of the inter-state smuggling gang has been identified as Laxmikant Pradhan, hailing from Ganjam district. We have got this information from the Odisha Police."
"The police personnel have been on the lookout for Sandeep Satpute, a resident of Thane. Satpute owns the godown in Bhiwandi where the ganja was kept," Bharmbe added.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
