Drone Surveillance Helps Bilaspur Police Bust Ganja Network; Seven Held, Including Five Minors
Raipur
In a first-of-its-kind operation, Bilaspur Police used drone cameras to crack down on an alleged drug trafficking network operating in the Kundrubadi and Chingrajpara areas of Sarkanda, arresting seven persons, including five minors, and seizing ganja worth ₹3.35 lakh.
The operation was carried out by Sarkanda Police on Monday following intelligence inputs that drug peddlers were using juveniles to distribute narcotics in an attempt to evade law enforcement agencies.
Acting on the information, Inspector General and Senior Superintendent of Police Rajnesh Singh directed the formation of a special team to dismantle the network. The operation was conducted under the supervision of Additional SP (City) Pankaj Patel and CSP Nimitesh Singh, with Sarkanda SHO Pradeep Kumar Arya leading the team.
Police deployed drone cameras to monitor vulnerable localities across Sarkanda and received a tip-off on Monday morning that a group was preparing to sell a large consignment of ganja in the Kundrubadi–Chingrajpara area. Based on drone surveillance and ground intelligence, the team cordoned off the area and conducted a raid, apprehending the suspects on the spot.
During the operation, police seized 6.744 kg of ganja valued at approximately ₹3.35 lakh, along with a sharp-edged weapon.
The arrested adults were identified as Kush Yadav alias Pappu Yadav (25), a resident of Chingrajpara-Kundrubadi, and Deepak Sahu (18) of Vishwakarma Chowk, Sarkanda. Five minors were also detained. Police said the juveniles had allegedly been drawn into the illegal trade with promises of quick money.
Cases have been registered against the accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Arms Act. Investigators are now working to trace the source of the contraband and identify the alleged kingpin behind the network.
Police appealed to residents to report suspicious activities and illegal drug sales, assuring that the identity of informants would be kept strictly confidential.
