Gujarat: Hybrid cannabis worth Rs 86.31 lakh seized in apartment

Vadodara, June 13 (IANS) Police in Gujarat’s Vadodara have seized hybrid cannabis valued at more than Rs 86 lakh from a flat in the city’s Alkapuri area, following a raid conducted by the Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of CID Crime on the basis of specific intelligence inputs, officials said on Saturday.

According to an official release issued by the ANTF, officers of the Vadodara Zone raided a residence at Vatsalya Flat on Jetalpur Road after receiving information that narcotic substances were being stored there for sale and financial gain.

During the search of the premises, officers recovered 2.466 kg of hybrid cannabis. The seized contraband has been valued at Rs 86.31 lakh. Investigators also recovered an electronic weighing scale, a cash-counting machine and Rs 3.36 lakh in cash.

The total value of the seized property was estimated at Rs 89.69 lakh.

Police have identified the accused as Shahidkhan Pathan, a resident of the flat where the contraband was allegedly stored. The accused was not present during the raid and remains absconding, according to the complaint.

A case has been registered under Sections 8(c) and 20(b)(2)(B) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Further investigation has been transferred to the Akota Police Station in Vadodara.

The seizure comes amid continuing enforcement action against narcotics trafficking in Gujarat.

Earlier this month, a raid by the ANTF in Ahmedabad’s Bopal area led to the seizure of narcotic substances, including MD drugs, cocaine and cannabis, with the total value of the recovered material reported at around Rs 18 lakh.

In another recent case, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 6.32 kg of methamphetamine worth Rs 6.32 crore from a passenger at Surat Railway Station after recovering the drug from specially designed cavities in luggage during an operation in April.

–IANS

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