Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD)
Udupi, Sept 23: In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, police have arrested nine persons in two separate operations conducted within the limits of Shirva and Udupi Town police stations, seizing ganja, methamphetamine, cash, vehicles and other materials worth a total of Rs 16,01,584.
Eight arrested in Shirva drug bust
Acting on credible information received by Kaup police station PSI Shubhakara on September 22, police conducted a raid at Bhadrama Road, Padubelle, in Belle village, at around 4.35 pm.
Police found eight persons allegedly in possession of prohibited narcotic substances with the intention of selling them for personal gain.
During the operation, police seized 1,354.28 grams of ganja, valued at Rs 67,714, and 32.74 grams of methamphetamine, valued at Rs 1,30,960.
The police also seized two cars valued at Rs 6 lakh and Rs 4 lakh, respectively, along with a scooter valued at Rs 25,000.
In addition, nine mobile phones worth Rs 93,300, two weighing machines valued at Rs 500 and Rs 75,010 in cash were seized.
The arrested persons have been identified as Alnaz alias Mohammed Anas, Mohammed Altaf, Stanley Sandeep, Shakeeb, Mohammed Faisal, Imtiaz, Ajay Kumar and Santhosh Devadiga.
A case has been registered at Shirva police station, and PSI Anil is conducting the investigation.
According to police, the accused reportedly told investigators that they had brought the ganja from Uppala in Kerala for sale.
Police said some of the accused have previous criminal cases registered at various police stations and were allegedly involved in criminal activities.
Udupi Town police seize 1.66 kg ganja
In another operation, Udupi Town police arrested a 31-year-old man and seized 1.659 kg of ganja, valued at approximately Rs 83,000, along with Rs 1.26 lakh in cash, a digital weighing scale and other materials.
Acting on credible information received by Udupi Town police station PSI (Law and Order) Bharatesh Kankanawadi on the evening of September 22, police obtained the necessary authorisation from the Superintendent of Police and conducted a raid at around 12.10 am on September 23.
The raid was conducted at a house on the third cross of Vadiraaj Road in Shivalli village, Udupi.
The arrested accused has been identified as Srivatsa K G (31), son of Ganapathi, a native of Managodu village, Nelligoodu post, Sagara taluk, Shivamogga district. He was residing in a rented house belonging to Sulekha on Vadiraaj Road, Shivalli.
Police said the ganja had allegedly been stored for the purpose of sale.
A case has been registered at Udupi Town police station, and PSI Prakash is conducting the investigation.
Previous cases against Shirva accused
Police said several of the accused in the Shirva case have previous criminal cases registered at various police stations across Udupi district.
Stanley Sandeep has one case registered at Manipal police station.
Mohammed Faisal has three cases — one each at Malpe, Karkala Rural and Manipal police stations.
Imtiaz has eight cases registered against him — three at Udupi Town, one murder case at Brahmavar, one at Malpe and three at Manipal police station.
Ajay Kumar has three cases, including a robbery case at Udupi Town police station and one each at Manipal and Shirva police stations.
Santhosh Devadiga has two cases relating to ganja consumption registered at Udupi Town police station.
Police teams involved
The operations were carried out under the guidance of ASP Ishita Gupta and Udupi sub-division DySP Belliyappa, and under the leadership of Udupi Town police inspector Mahesh Prasad P and Kaup circle inspector Azmath Ali.
Shirva PSI Anil, Kapu PSI Shubhakara, ASI Sudesh, Sundaragowda, head constables Manjunath and Harsha, police constables Arun, Nagaraj, Sharan and Kishore, CEN police station personnel Praveen and Deekshith, Manipal police station personnel Vishwajith, Udupi Town PSIs Bharatesh Kankanawadi and Prakash, police personnel Basheer Ahmed and Ananda Ganiga, along with other staff and SOCO personnel, assisted in the operations and investigation.