In a significant crackdown under 'Operation Nishchay', Chhattisgarh police dismantled an inter-state ganja trafficking network that used the disguise of roadside cloth sellers to smuggle cannabis. The operation, spanning Mahasamund, Dhamtari, and Gariyaband districts, resulted in the seizure of over 378 kg of ganja valued at approximately ₹1.9 crore.
Modus Operandi: Cloth Seller Disguise
The traffickers posed as harmless cloth vendors, stacking their motorcycles with colorful garments to conceal contraband. They had modified their motorcycles with specially designed iron compartments fitted behind the rear seats, cleverly hidden under piles of clothes. Raipur range Inspector General Amresh Mishra stated, 'From outside, they looked like ordinary hawkers. Inside, they were running a drug supply chain.'
Operation Details
Based on technical inputs and precise intelligence, the coordinated operation led to the arrest of 12 inter-state traffickers and the seizure of 11 vehicles, along with contraband and equipment. The total value of seized property is estimated at ₹1.98 crore.
- In Mahasamund, police recovered over 215 kg of ganja and arrested five accused moving in a motorcycle convoy. Additionally, 23 kg was seized in a related case, and another 10 kg during a naka check.
- In Dhamtari, police intercepted a group using the same disguise, seizing 131 kg of ganja and arresting two accused, along with a minor in conflict with law.
Network and Techniques
IG Mishra revealed that the gang was part of a larger network experimenting with new smuggling techniques to evade detection. 'Earlier, traffickers used ambulances, fruit consignments, transport companies, and even public transport. This time, they turned into hawkers. But every new trick is being tracked and neutralised,' he added.
Police Strategy
Intensified naka checking at inter-state borders and intelligence-based operations have been key to cracking such networks. The cannabis was being transported from Odisha's Baliguda and Titiri-Rayagada regions to Madhya Pradesh. Further investigation is underway to trace backward and forward linkages of the racket.
