696 kg poppy husk worth ₹1.04 crore seized from Gujarat-bound truck
Synopsis
Nearly 700 kg of poppy husk worth over ₹1 crore, hidden beneath steel coils in an industrial truck, was busted on a Gujarat highway — exposing a cross-state trafficking network spanning Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. The case reveals how narcotics traffickers are increasingly exploiting legitimate freight consignments as cover.
Key Takeaways
Ahmedabad Rural Police intercepted a truck on the Kheda-Dholka highway on 8 October , recovering 696.94 kg of poppy husk packed in 36 sacks .
The narcotic haul was valued at ₹1.045 crore ; total seized assets, including the truck and steel coil, estimated at ₹1.47 crore .
Arrested driver Bhairaram Tarad , 33 , from Barmer, Rajasthan , was allegedly offered ₹2 lakh in freight charges to carry the consignment.
Suspect Santosh , who allegedly loaded the drugs near Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh , remains at large; Jetaram Kadwasha of Kutch is in custody and being questioned as the alleged receiver.
Case registered under Sections 8(c) , 15(c) , and 29 of the NDPS Act at Dholka Rural Police Station .
The Ahmedabad Rural Police have seized 696.94 kg of poppy husk — valued at ₹1.045 crore — concealed beneath steel coils inside a truck intercepted on the Kheda-Dholka highway on the night of 8 October, in what officials describe as an alleged interstate narcotics trafficking operation. The driver has been arrested, and two other suspects have been identified in connection with the case.
How the Seizure Unfolded
The operation was a coordinated effort by the Special Operations Group (SOG) and the Anti-Narcotics Wing (ANW) of Ahmedabad Rural Police, triggered by a tip-off received by SOG Sub-Inspector I.K. Sheikh. Acting on intelligence that a truck-trailer was ferrying a large narcotic consignment hidden beneath steel coils, police teams tracked the vehicle and moved to intercept it.
When officers removed the tarpaulin covering the steel coils, they discovered 36 black and yellow sacks packed with the suspected narcotic substance concealed underneath. The truck was travelling from Nagpur in Maharashtra to Sanand in Gujarat, with the steel coils reportedly destined for delivery to Tata Motors in Sanand, according to police.
The Accused and Their Alleged Roles
The arrested driver has been identified as Bhairaram Tarad, 33, a resident of Barmer district in Rajasthan. According to police, Tarad was allegedly promised freight charges of ₹2 lakh to transport the consignment to its intended recipient in Gujarat.
Investigators allege the consignment was loaded into the trailer near Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh by a person identified as Santosh, who is currently wanted in the case. Police have also detained Jetaram Kadwasha, a resident of Samakhiyali in Kutch district, suspected of being the receiver who ordered the consignment. He is currently being questioned.
Value of Seized Property
The total value of all seized assets is estimated at ₹1.47 crore. This includes the poppy husk worth ₹1.045 crore, a truck-trailer valued at ₹20 lakh, a steel coil worth approximately ₹22.22 lakh, two mobile phones valued at ₹7,000, and cash amounting to ₹32,010.
Legal Action and Investigation
A case has been registered at Dholka Rural Police Station under Sections 8(c), 15(c), and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Investigators are continuing efforts to establish the full supply chain behind the consignment and to apprehend the absconding suspect Santosh.
This seizure underscores a recurring pattern of narcotics being smuggled across state borders concealed within legitimate industrial cargo — a method that complicates routine freight inspections. With the investigation spanning Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, authorities are expected to pursue further arrests as the probe widens.
Point of View
Stretching from Madhya Pradesh through Maharashtra into Gujarat, points to an organised network rather than opportunistic smuggling. What remains to be seen is whether investigators can follow the chain back far enough to identify the source, not just the couriers.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Gujarat truck drug bust?
Police seized 696.94 kg of poppy husk, packed in 36 sacks and concealed beneath steel coils inside a truck intercepted on the Kheda-Dholka highway on 8 October. The narcotic haul was valued at ₹1.045 crore.
Who was arrested in the Ahmedabad poppy husk case?
The arrested driver is Bhairaram Tarad , 33, a resident of Barmer district in Rajasthan. He was allegedly paid ₹2 lakh in freight charges to transport the consignment. A second suspect, Jetaram Kadwasha of Kutch, has been detained for questioning.
Which police units conducted the operation?
The seizure was a joint operation by the Special Operations Group (SOG) and the Anti-Narcotics Wing (ANW) of Ahmedabad Rural Police, acting on a tip-off received by SOG Sub-Inspector I.K. Sheikh.
What charges have been filed in the case?
A case has been registered at Dholka Rural Police Station under Sections 8(c), 15(c), and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act , which cover production, possession, and criminal conspiracy related to narcotics.
Where did the drug consignment originate?
According to police, the consignment was allegedly loaded near Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh by a suspect identified as Santosh, who is currently wanted. The truck had started its journey from Nagpur in Maharashtra and was headed to Sanand in Gujarat.
