Greater Noida drug bust: ₹1 crore ganja seized, interstate gang of 3 arrested
Synopsis
A hidden cavity in a truck, a scout car riding ahead, and a gang leader with a prior drug conviction — Greater Noida police dismantled an interstate ganja ring on 14 October, seizing over 165 kg of cannabis worth ₹1 crore headed from Odisha to Delhi's wholesale and retail networks.
Key Takeaways
Badalpur Police and the Anti-Narcotics Team seized 165 kg 700 grams of ganja worth approximately ₹1 crore on 14 October 2026 .
The drugs were being smuggled from Bhubaneswar, Odisha to Delhi in a truck fitted with a secret cavity .
Three individuals , all originally from Bihar , were arrested near the Kudi Kheda turn on Dadri-Lalkuan road in Greater Noida .
Gang leader Dinesh Pal has a prior conviction linked to a 250 kg ganja seizure in 2021 .
The consignment was destined for two Delhi-based recipients — Sameer and Ravi Kumar Sahni — for wholesale and retail distribution.
A case has been registered under the NDPS Act ; police are investigating the truck's transport company for possible deeper involvement.
Badalpur Police and the Anti-Narcotics Team in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, busted an interstate cannabis smuggling gang on the night of 14 October 2026, seizing 165 kg 700 grams of ganja valued at approximately ₹1 crore and arresting three individuals. The haul was intercepted near the Kudi Kheda turn on the Dadri-Lalkuan road during a joint checking operation conducted on local intelligence.
How the Operation Unfolded
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Praveen Ranjan Singh, officers flagged down a truck carrying the concealed consignment. 'Last night, during a joint checking operation conducted by the Anti-Narcotics team and the Badalpur police station, a truck was intercepted based on local intelligence. Approximately 1.66 quintals of ganja, which was being transported from Odisha to Delhi, was seized. Three individuals involved in the operation were arrested: two were in the truck, while the third was driving a car accompanying it,' he told reporters.
The truck had a secret cavity built into it specifically to evade police checks — a method commonly used by interstate narcotics networks. A car accompanied the truck, with its driver scouting the route ahead while the vehicle followed behind.
The Accused and Their Roles
All three arrested individuals are originally from Bihar, though one had been residing in Delhi. The identified gang leader, Dinesh Pal, was reportedly responsible for transporting the consignment from Bhubaneswar, Odisha. According to police, Dinesh has prior criminal history — he reportedly served approximately 15 months in jail following the seizure of 250 kg of ganja in 2021.
Singh said the consignment, once it arrived in Delhi, was to be handed over to two individuals identified as Sameer and Ravi Kumar Sahni, after which it would have been distributed through wholesale and retail channels across the capital.
Recoveries and Seizures
Besides the drugs, police confiscated the truck and the car used in the operation. Additional items recovered include four mobile phones, ₹1,980 in cash, and bank cards. Investigators are now probing the transport company that owns the truck, determining whether other vehicles in its fleet have been used in similar operations.
Case Registered, Probe Ongoing
A formal case has been registered against all three accused at Badalpur Police Station under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Authorities confirmed that detailed interrogation of the arrested individuals is underway to map the full network, including the supplier chain from Odisha and the distribution web in Delhi. This seizure underscores the persistent challenge of ganja trafficking along the Odisha-Bihar-Delhi corridor, a route law enforcement agencies have flagged in multiple prior busts.
Point of View
Not petty trafficking. The gang leader's prior 2021 conviction raises uncomfortable questions about post-release monitoring and the adequacy of bail conditions in NDPS cases. The Odisha-to-Delhi corridor has featured in multiple major seizures, yet the network appears to reconstitute quickly. Sustained impact will require upstream action against the Odisha supply nodes and the Delhi distribution contacts already named, not just the carriers intercepted mid-route.
NationPress
14 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much ganja was seized in the Greater Noida drug bust?
Police seized 165 kg 700 grams of ganja, valued at approximately ₹1 crore , during the operation on 14 October 2026. The drugs were hidden inside a secret cavity built into a truck.
Who were the three people arrested in Greater Noida?
The three arrested individuals are all originally from Bihar, though one had been residing in Delhi. The gang leader, Dinesh Pal , had a prior criminal record involving a 250 kg ganja seizure in 2021. The other two accompanied the truck as its crew and the escort car driver.
Where was the ganja being smuggled from and to?
The consignment originated from Bhubaneswar, Odisha and was headed to Delhi , where it was to be handed over to two individuals named Sameer and Ravi Kumar Sahni for distribution through wholesale and retail channels.
What charges have been filed against the accused?
A case has been registered at Badalpur Police Station under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act . Detailed interrogation is ongoing to map the broader network.
How did police detect the hidden drugs in the truck?
Officers acted on local intelligence during a joint checking operation conducted by the Anti-Narcotics Team and Badalpur police. The drugs were concealed in a secret cavity inside the truck specifically designed to evade routine police checks.
