Cannabis cultivation busted in Gujarat's Sabarkantha; ₹6.38 lakh drugs seized, one held
Synopsis
Gujarat's ANTF unearthed a dual-site cannabis operation in rural Sabarkantha — plants growing on farmland, dried stock stashed in a home — seizing over 12 kg of contraband worth ₹6.38 lakh. The bust fits a widening pattern of agricultural land being co-opted for narcotics cultivation, with investigators now probing the supply chain beyond the lone arrested suspect.
Key Takeaways
ANTF of CID Crime and Railways raided Vinchi village, Poshina taluka, Sabarkantha on 17 May 2025 .
Seized 8.060 kg of green cannabis plants and 4.700 kg of dry cannabis, total value approximately ₹6.38 lakh .
One person, Makana Gamar , aged 53 , detained and charged under the NDPS Act .
Case registered under Sections 8(b)(c), 20(a), 20(b)(1), and 20(b)(2)(b) of the NDPS Act.
Joint investigation by ANTF and Kheroj Police Station ongoing to trace the supply chain and any co-accused.
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of CID Crime and Railways, Gujarat, dismantled an illegal cannabis cultivation operation in Sabarkantha district on 17 May 2025, seizing contraband worth approximately ₹6.38 lakh and detaining one person. The raid, conducted at Vinchi village in the Wadi area of Poshina taluka, targeted both agricultural land and a residential property.
How the Operation Unfolded
Acting on specific intelligence inputs and under the supervision of senior officers, a team led by Police Inspector R.V. Patel executed a coordinated search of farmland and a nearby residence at Vinchi village. The operation utilised surveillance data and technical intelligence to pinpoint the cultivation site and storage location. Multiple personnel — including police inspectors, sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors, head constables, constables, and technical experts — participated in the raid.
What Was Seized
The team recovered approximately 8.060 kilograms of green cannabis plants from cultivated land and 4.700 kilograms of dry cannabis from the residential premises. The total estimated value of the seized contraband was stated to be ₹6,38,000, according to officials.
The Arrest and Charges
Police detained one individual, identified as Makana Gamar, aged 53, a resident of Vinchi village, Poshina. Preliminary investigation reportedly suggested Gamar's involvement in illegal cultivation and possession of narcotic substances. A case has been registered under Sections 8(b)(c), 20(a), 20(b)(1), and 20(b)(2)(b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Joint Investigation Under Way
Further probe is being conducted jointly by ANTF officials and Kheroj Police Station to determine the source of cultivation, map the distribution network, and establish whether additional individuals are involved, according to police.
Part of a Wider Enforcement Push in Gujarat
This operation is part of an intensified ANTF enforcement drive across the state. Earlier this year, units in Gandhinagar intercepted suspected traffickers and recovered nearly 12 kilograms of ganja worth around ₹6 lakh following targeted surveillance and vehicle interception. In a separate operation in the Ahmedabad zone, ANTF teams raided a residential premises in Bopal and seized a mix of substances — including methamphetamine, hybrid marijuana, and cocaine — valued at over ₹18 lakh, underscoring the unit's sustained focus on urban supply chains. Notably, the Sabarkantha bust marks yet another instance of rural agricultural land being used for cannabis cultivation, a pattern investigators are now closely tracking.
Point of View
But the pattern it fits is not. Gujarat's ANTF has now logged multiple seizures — rural cultivation, urban distribution, cross-substance supply chains — within months, suggesting a narcotics network with distinct production and retail tiers rather than isolated incidents. The single arrest of a 53-year-old villager is unlikely to represent the network's apex; the joint investigation with Kheroj Police Station will be the real test of whether enforcement can move up the chain. Rural agricultural land as a cultivation front is a harder problem than urban interception — it demands sustained land-record surveillance, not just tip-based raids.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Sabarkantha cannabis raid?
ANTF recovered approximately 8.060 kg of green cannabis plants from farmland and 4.700 kg of dry cannabis from a residential property in Vinchi village, Poshina taluka. The total estimated value of the contraband was ₹6,38,000.
Who was arrested in the Sabarkantha drug bust?
Police detained Makana Gamar, 53, a resident of Vinchi village in Poshina, Sabarkantha district. He has been charged under multiple sections of the NDPS Act for alleged illegal cultivation and possession of narcotic substances.
Which sections of the NDPS Act apply in this case?
A case has been registered under Sections 8(b)(c), 20(a), 20(b)(1), and 20(b)(2)(b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. These sections pertain to the production, possession, and sale of cannabis and related substances.
What is the ANTF and what role did it play?
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) is a specialised unit under Gujarat's CID Crime and Railways, tasked with combating drug trafficking. It led the Sabarkantha raid using intelligence inputs, technical surveillance, and a multi-personnel team headed by Police Inspector R.V. Patel.
Is the investigation still ongoing?
Yes. ANTF and Kheroj Police Station are jointly investigating to determine the source of cultivation, identify the distribution network, and establish whether any additional individuals are involved beyond the one person already detained.
