Raipur
Raigarh police and Sarangarh-Bilaigarh district police jointly busted an interstate cannabis smuggling syndicate under Operation Aaghat, arresting eight accused from Uttar Pradesh and seizing contraband and vehicles worth ₹61.53 lakh.
Senior Superintendent of Police Shashi Mohan Singh said the syndicate was transporting cannabis from Odisha to Uttar Pradesh through the Jamuna-Lailunga-Pathalgaon route.
The operation began after Lailunga SHO Sub-Inspector Girdhari Sao received information about a black Tata Safari (UP 70 DF 0050) carrying cannabis. Under the supervision of Dharamjaigarh SDOP Siddhant Tiwari and Additional SP Anil Soni, police set up a blockade at Kamarga village.
When police tried to stop the speeding SUV, its driver rammed a police vehicle and fled toward Motipur. Police chased the vehicle, where a scooter (OD 12 H 6460) was found acting as a pilot vehicle. The two drivers abandoned their vehicles and attempted to escape on foot but were arrested by police.
The accused were identified as Gagan Kumar Chaudhary (25) and Anil Kumar Chaudhary (36), both from Uttar Pradesh. During interrogation, they revealed that six associates were travelling in two Hyundai Aura cars as pilot vehicles for the convoy from Odisha.
Meanwhile, Sariya police intercepted the two Hyundai Aura cars (UP 70 RT 1067 and UP 70 RT 3451) at Kanchanpur barrier. The occupants—Sandeep Singh, Lalit Pal, Shubham Singh, Deepanshu Singh, Prince Singh and Devendra Tiwari—admitted that the SUV behind them was carrying the main cannabis consignment.
Following the information, Raigarh police intensified the operation. All six suspects detained by Sariya police were later made co-accused in the case registered at Lailunga police station.
Police booked all eight accused under Sections 20(B) and 29 of the NDPS Act.
Seizure Details
- Cannabis: 34.865 kg (34 packets) worth ₹17.43 lakh
- Vehicles: 1 Tata Safari, 2 Hyundai Aura cars and 1 scooter worth ₹43.30 lakh
- Mobile phones: 8, worth ₹80,000
- Total seizure: ₹61.53 lakh
