Four individuals, including two suspected interstate traffickers, were apprehended in Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh, after the Anti-Narcotics Task Force and local police seized 10.270 kg of cannabis valued at Rs 2 lakh. The detainees, two couples, were identified as Shankar Behera (45) and Chanchal Behera (30) from Saraipali, along with Kapil Bakul (23) and Rashmi Bakul (20) from Odisha’s Boudh district. Authorities also confiscated assets worth Rs 3.15 lakh, including two vehicles and two mobile phones used in the illicit operation.
The accused reportedly procured the cannabis from Odisha with intentions to distribute it in Saraipali’s Devalbhata area after repackaging it into smaller units for retail. The interception of the consignment, meant for local consumption in Mahasamund, prevented its circulation in the market. Investigators noted that a married couple among the detainees posed as a family to avoid suspicion but drew attention during surveillance.
In the last three months alone, authorities have seized a total of 5,779.831 kg of cannabis in 81 separate cases, leading to the arrest of 213 individuals. Among those apprehended, 53 are from Chhattisgarh, while 160 are from other states, highlighting the extensive interstate trafficking networks. The Anti-Narcotics Task Force has been instructed to take stringent legal action against the smuggling, transportation, and sale of illegal cannabis, including thorough financial investigations.
On April 30, acting on a tip-off, the police intercepted individuals from Odisha planning an illegal cannabis trade in Saraipali. The police team nabbed the suspects near Arjunda village, where one individual arrived on a motorcycle with a woman pillion rider, followed by another person on a different motorcycle carrying a sack of goods. The contents of the sack revealed 10.270 kg of cannabis valued at Rs 2,00,000, leading to the arrest of the traffickers under the NDPS Act.
