NCB wins 10-year jail term for 2 MP smugglers caught with 230 kg poppy straw in Gujarat
Synopsis
Two Madhya Pradesh men caught in Gujarat with nearly 230 kg of poppy straw in 2022 have been handed 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentences by a special NDPS court — a conviction the NCB says underscores zero tolerance for interstate drug trafficking.
Key Takeaways
Jagdish Bhuriya and Dinesh Bhuriya of Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh convicted on 2 May 2025 by a special NDPS Court in Nadiad, Gujarat .
Both sentenced to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment and fined ₹1 lakh each under the NDPS Act, 1985 .
The duo was intercepted at Khatraj Chokdi, Kheda on 22 December 2022 with 229.960 kg of poppy straw .
Chargesheet filed on 16 June 2023 under Sections 8(c), 15(c), and 29 of the NDPS Act.
Case investigated and prosecuted by the NCB Ahmedabad Zonal Unit .
A special NDPS Court in Nadiad, Gujarat, on 2 May 2025 convicted two Madhya Pradesh residents and sentenced them to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment each for smuggling 229.960 kg of poppy straw across state lines in 2022, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) confirmed. The verdict, delivered on Friday, also imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on each convict under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
Who Was Convicted
Jagdish Bhuriya and Dinesh Bhuriya, both residents of Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, were found guilty of interstate narcotics trafficking. The District and Sessions Court at Nadiad convicted them under Sections 8(c), 15(c), and 29 of the NDPS Act — provisions that carry stringent penalties for commercial-quantity drug offences.
How the NCB Intercepted the Accused
Acting on specific and credible intelligence, officers of the NCB Ahmedabad Zonal Unit intercepted the two accused at Khatraj Chokdi near Mehmedabad, Kheda district, on 22 December 2022. At the time of the interception, Jagdish Bhuriya was driving a vehicle bearing registration number GJ15AD4436, while Dinesh Bhuriya was at the wheel of a pickup vehicle bearing registration number MP13GA5796.
The contraband — 229.960 kg of poppy straw, a substance prohibited under the NDPS Act — was recovered from the vehicle driven by Dinesh Bhuriya during search proceedings. Both accused were arrested on the spot.
Chargesheet and Trial
Following the completion of investigations, the NCB filed a chargesheet before the District and Sessions Court at Nadiad on 16 June 2023. The prosecution argued the case under sections covering possession, transportation, and conspiracy related to prohibited narcotic substances in commercial quantities. The trial concluded with Friday's conviction order.
NCB's Message on Drug Trafficking
The NCB said the conviction
Point of View
But the broader picture deserves scrutiny. Poppy straw trafficking from Madhya Pradesh — a state with significant legal opium cultivation — into Gujarat is a well-documented corridor, and two convictions from a 2022 case reaching verdict in 2025 reflects the sluggish pace of NDPS prosecutions. The three-year gap between arrest and conviction is not unusual, but it underlines why deterrence remains limited: traffickers often factor in prolonged trials. The NCB's emphasis on 'meticulous investigation' is warranted, but sustained pressure on the supply chain — not just end-carriers — is what would move the needle on interstate narcotics flows.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the two persons convicted in the Gujarat poppy straw smuggling case?
Jagdish Bhuriya and Dinesh Bhuriya, both residents of Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh, were convicted by a special NDPS Court in Nadiad, Gujarat. They were sentenced to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment each and fined ₹1 lakh each.
How much poppy straw was seized in the Gujarat drug bust of 2022?
NCB officers seized 229.960 kg of poppy straw from the vehicle driven by Dinesh Bhuriya at Khatraj Chokdi near Mehmedabad, Kheda, on 22 December 2022. Poppy straw is a prohibited substance under the NDPS Act.
Under which sections of the NDPS Act were the accused convicted?
The two accused were convicted under Sections 8(c), 15(c), and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, which cover possession, transportation, and conspiracy involving commercial quantities of prohibited narcotics.
How long did the trial take from arrest to conviction?
The accused were arrested on 22 December 2022, and the chargesheet was filed on 16 June 2023. The court delivered its conviction order on 2 May 2025 — approximately two and a half years after the initial arrest.
What is the significance of this NCB conviction?
The NCB said the verdict sends an unequivocal message that drug trafficking will not be tolerated. The case is significant as it involved interstate smuggling of nearly 230 kg of poppy straw, a commercial-quantity offence attracting the NDPS Act's most stringent penalties.
