MAHASAMUND Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) conducted three synchronized operations within 24 hours under ‘Operation Nishchay’, seizing 132.5 kg of cannabis worth Rs 66.25 lakh and arresting 11 interstate smugglers. The coordinated crackdown across Singhoda, Komakhan and Bagbahra police stations resulted in seizure of six vehicles worth Rs 55 lakh used for transporting the contraband. According to police officials, the operations demonstrated end-to-end enforcement with the entire network from wholesale suppliers to buyers traced within six hours. The action involved cooperation from Raipur, Rajnandgaon and Bhandara district police, with intelligence provided by the Cyber Police Station’s Data Analytics and Intelligence Desk.

 

In the first operation at Singhoda, a team intercepted two vehicles on National Highway 53 based on intelligence about ganja being transported from Sonpur, Odisha. Police seized 52.5 kg of cannabis valued at Rs 26.25 lakh along with a Swift Dzire and Tata Indico worth Rs 10 lakh. Three accused from Jabalpur were arrested: Amit Rai (32), Rajkumar Kewat (50) and Prakash Sharma (28). Kewat has previous criminal records under MP Excise Act and Public Gambling Act. The Komakhan operation resulted in seizure of 40 kg ganja worth Rs 20 lakh from a Bolero vehicle and arrest of six accused. Transporters Gajendra Kumar (29) and Babblu Mandhi (21), both from Kalahandi district in Odisha, were apprehended along with forward link buyers. Kumar has five prior cases for theft and arms violations. Four Maharashtra residents were arrested as buyers: Akshay Waghade (26), Ayush Rahangadale (26), Rakesh Lanjitar (23) and Akshay alias Michael Rangari (29).

 

Rangari has two previous cases under NDPS Act. Three vehicles worth Rs 30 lakh were seized. At Bagbahra, police intercepted a Hyundai Verna carrying 40 kg of cannabis valued at Rs 20 lakh. Two accused, Sumit Shrivastava (33) from Datia and Reena Bhadauria alias Reena Tomar (40) from Morena, were arrested. The vehicle worth Rs 15 lakh was confiscated. Cases under Section 20(b) of NDPS Act have been registered at all three police stations. Investigation is ongoing to identify other persons involved in the network, financial transactions and properties linked to the smuggling operation. Since January 2026, Mahasamund police have registered 34 cases under Operation Nishchay, seizing 2,285 kg of cannabis worth Rs 11.42 crore and confiscating 35 vehicles valued at Rs 1.20 crore. A total of 93 persons have been arrested, of which 69 are from other states including 23 from Odisha, 17 from Madhya Pradesh and 16 from Maharashtra.