Gujarat Police Uncover Massive Rs 11 Crore Cannabis Cultivation Operation in Bhavnagar
In a significant crackdown on illegal drug activities, the Bhavnagar police have uncovered a massive cannabis cultivation operation with seizures valued at approximately Rs 11 crore. This bust is reported to be the largest such discovery of illegal cultivation in Gujarat in recent times.
Arrests and Raid Details
Acting on a credible tip-off, teams from the Sihor police station conducted a raid on an agricultural field located on the outskirts of Sakhavadar village. The police arrested two brothers identified as Sanjay alias Munna Chauhan (55) and Bogha (53). Both have been booked under the relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Senior officials revealed that the cannabis plants were cleverly interspersed among vegetable crops and castor plantations to evade detection. This method of concealment highlights the sophisticated nature of the illegal operation.
Motivation Behind the Cultivation
Bhavnagar district superintendent of police (DSP) Nitish Pandey provided insight into the brothers' motives. "Bogha was addicted to opium, and his brother often procured it for him. However, the availability started getting scarce, which led them to start cultivating cannabis," Pandey stated. The police confirmed that the brothers were present at the farm during the raid and reportedly confessed to cultivating both cannabis and opium on their land during questioning.
Seizure and Valuation
Sihor police inspector B D Jadeja detailed the extensive seizure made on February 22. "We received information about the brothers illegally cultivating opium on the farm between Sakhavadar and Sargam villages. Our teams seized 1,087.52 kg of green opium poppy plants, 26.06 kg of dried poppy husk, and close to 19 kg of green cannabis plants," Jadeja explained. The total value of the seizure is estimated at Rs 10.92 crore, rounding to about Rs 11 crore, making it a landmark bust in the state.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Investigation
The First Information Report (FIR) was lodged by H V Goswami (41), an assistant sub-inspector of the Sihor police station. Following their arrest, the duo was produced in court and remanded in police custody for three days.
Officials have indicated that the investigation will now focus on several key aspects. They plan to probe how long the illegal cultivation had been underway and where the accused intended to sell the processed opium and cannabis. This deeper inquiry aims to uncover potential networks and prevent future such activities.
This bust underscores the ongoing efforts by Gujarat police to combat drug-related crimes and highlights the challenges posed by hidden cultivation practices in rural areas.
