Daijiworld Media Network - Rajkot
Rajkot, Aug 18: The Special Operations Group (SOG) of Rajkot City Police seized 204.9 kg of ganja valued at Rs 1.02 crore from a truck near Bamanbor on the Ahmedabad-Rajkot highway and arrested two persons, officials said on Tuesday.
The action was carried out as part of a special drive against the sale and transportation of narcotic substances ahead of the Janmashtami festival.
Acting on information that three persons would be travelling in a truck carrying a consignment of ganja, SOG teams, with technical assistance from the DCB police station, were deployed near Bamanbor.
Police intercepted the truck and arrested Mohammad alias Kalo Sarvadi, 26, who was renting a house in Wada Ahir in Rajkot district, and Arbaaz Sandhi, 27, a driver residing in the Bapa Sitaram Chowk area of Rajkot.
Two other accused, Rameez alias Mayo Rajakbhai, a resident of Lodhwar in Rajkot, and Amit alias Gurkho, who resides in Hadala near Momai Hotel on Morbi Road in Rajkot, are yet to be arrested.
According to the SOG, Rameez had allegedly agreed to pay the two arrested accused Rs 20,000 per trip and sent them to Odisha to collect the contraband.
Police said Amit allegedly arranged the consignment in Odisha and sent the two men back to Rajkot with the ganja.
The seized ganja weighed 204.900 kg and was valued at Rs 1,02,45,000, officials said.
Police also seized three mobile phones, the truck, steel pipes, relevant e-way bills and other documents. The total value of the seized property was estimated at Rs 1,55,73,730.
Officials said the information leading to the operation was received on August 17, when SOG personnel were alerted that Rameez alias Mayo and the other accused would travel along the Ahmedabad-Rajkot highway with a consignment of ganja.
Police subsequently maintained surveillance in the area and intercepted the truck near Bamanbor.
The two arrested men were taken into custody and legal proceedings were initiated at Rajkot Airport Police Station under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
Senior police officials supervised the operation. A case was registered following the seizure, while efforts are underway to trace and arrest Rameez and Amit, who remain at large.