Three men in Surat have each received a 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence from a special court for their involvement in a ganja trafficking case. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) reported that over 562 kg of ganja was seized during the operation conducted in Surat’s Kim area on May 4 and 5, 2020. The NCB’s Ahmedabad Zonal Unit revealed that the ganja had been illegally transported from Odisha to Gujarat.
The investigation uncovered a coordinated criminal conspiracy aimed at smuggling a commercial quantity of ganja across state borders for illicit distribution. The accused were found in possession of the contraband, leading to the filing of a case under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The NCB initiated legal proceedings before the Special NDPS Court in Surat City in October 2020.
After a trial in the Court of the 11th Additional District Judge, Surat City, the three convicted individuals, identified as Kalu Charan Behra, Sudhir Kumar Swain, and Mithun Pradhan, all residents of Odisha’s Ganjam district, were each sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs one lakh each. The NCB confirmed that the seized ganja had been disposed of in compliance with the prescribed procedure before the trial.
In a statement, the NCB emphasized its dedication to dismantling drug supply networks and ensuring that those exploiting inter-state transport routes for drug trafficking face legal consequences. The agency reiterated its support for a “Drug-Free India (Nasha Mukt Bharat)” and encouraged the public to report drug-related information through the MANAS National Narcotics Helpline, assuring informants of strict confidentiality.
