The Nagpur rural police have successfully dismantled a major interstate opium trafficking network, seizing nearly 34 kilograms of high-quality opium valued at over Rs 1.68 crore in Jharkhand's Simdega district. The operation, which lasted 96 hours, culminated in the arrest of the key accused, Manish Kumar, a 46-year-old hotel and dhaba owner in Simdega. According to sources, Kumar is the younger brother of a police officer and also serves as a police mitra, or volunteer.
Operation Details
The investigation began on May 20 when the anti-narcotics squad of the Nagpur rural police intercepted a truck driver, Harvansh Ram, near the Udasa Udan bridge on the Umred–Nagpur Road. During the search, officers allegedly found 237 grams of opium worth approximately Rs 1 lakh, along with a mobile phone, cash, and a vehicle. A case was subsequently registered at the Umred police station.
Nagpur rural Superintendent of Police Harsh A Poddar and Additional SP Anil Mhaske formed a specialized team to trace both backward and forward linkages within the network. Utilizing technical intelligence, interrogation, inputs, and surveillance, the team identified a main supplier operating in the Simdega district of Jharkhand.
Raids and Seizures
On Monday, police conducted a raid in Bhandartoli village, Simdega, and arrested Manish Kumar. During searches of his residence and an open plot in front of his house, officers recovered 34 kilograms of opium hidden in a trench. Additionally, they seized Rs 23 lakh in cash, an electronic weighing scale, plastic bags, rubber bands, and a mobile handset. The total value of seizures from the operation amounts to Rs 2.25 crore.
Investigators revealed that the network uses hotel and dhaba owners to supply opium to long-distance truckers transporting freight across the country. The contraband is exchanged at roadside eateries, concealed in vehicles, and transported under the guise of legitimate goods movement to demand centers in Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. Police sources also indicated the involvement of transporters from the Nagpur region.
Cross-Border Links
The probe may also uncover cross-border links, including possible routes into Nepal. Kumar has been brought to Nagpur on transit remand for further investigation.
Simdega Superintendent of Police Shrikant S Khotre stated, "The anti-narcotics team from Nagpur arrived in Simdega on May 24 with the accused for the searches." The operation highlights the coordinated efforts between police forces in different states to combat drug trafficking.
