An SUV crashed into a traffic island on Palm Beach Road in Navi Mumbai early Friday morning. The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled before the NRI coastal police team arrived at the scene. Upon inspection, the police recovered 69 kilograms of opium valued at approximately Rs 70 lakh, stored in three plastic sacks, along with a country-made pistol loaded with bullets from inside the vehicle.
Details of the Incident
Police Inspector (Crime) Bhaskar Kokare stated that the SUV, an MG Hector bearing a Rajasthan registration number, was traveling towards CBD-Belapur on Palm Beach Road. The driver lost control and crashed into the traffic island at the Nerul traffic signal around 4:30 am. The collision damaged a pole supporting a CCTV camera, and the vehicle was severely mangled. However, the driver managed to escape before authorities arrived.
Discovery of Contraband and Weapon
When the police team reached the spot, they noticed a pungent odor emanating from the damaged SUV. A thorough search revealed three plastic sacks in the boot, along with two small containers holding diesel and petrol. The sacks contained 69 kg of opium, estimated to be worth around Rs 70 lakh. Additionally, a loaded country-made pistol was found hidden inside the dashboard.
Inspector Kokare added, “The SUV is registered under the name of Ganpat Birbal Ram, whose residential address is in Rajasthan, as per information from the Rajasthan RTO. We have registered an FIR against the unidentified SUV driver under the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act, along with sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Motor Vehicle Act for rash and negligent driving causing damage to public property.”
Legal Proceedings
The police have launched a manhunt for the absconding driver. The recovered contraband and weapon have been seized as evidence. Further investigation is underway to trace the origins of the opium and the pistol, as well as to identify any potential links to larger drug networks.
