Surat Police arrest 2 Odisha men with 20 kg ganja worth ₹10 lakh
Synopsis
Surat's SOG arrested two Odisha-origin zari workers with 20 kg of ganja worth ₹10 lakh in a Chok Bazar raid — the second major haul in the city within 48 hours. Combined with a parallel Mahidharpura seizure, over 40 kg of contraband has been recovered in two days, exposing an active interstate supply chain feeding urban Gujarat.
Key Takeaways
Surat SOG arrested Kalucharan Mahanti, 31 , and Jitu Pradhan, 21 , both from Ganjam district, Odisha , on 1 July .
20 kg of ganja worth ₹10 lakh and two mobile phones worth ₹25,000 were seized — total confiscated value ₹10.25 lakh .
The accused allegedly admitted they were transporting the consignment for delivery to another wanted suspect.
A case has been registered under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(C), and 29 of the NDPS Act at Chok Bazar Police Station.
Combined ganja recovered across two Surat operations in two days exceeds 40 kg .
Recent Gujarat anti-narcotics drives also include a 12 kg hybrid ganja seizure in Ahmedabad and arrests in Himmatnagar, Sabarkantha .
The Special Operations Group (SOG) of Surat City Police arrested two men from Odisha and seized 20 kilograms of ganja valued at ₹10 lakh following a targeted raid at a residential premises in the Chok Bazar area of Surat, Gujarat, on Wednesday, 1 July. The operation forms part of the city's sustained crackdown on interstate narcotics trafficking.
How the Raid Unfolded
Acting on specific intelligence, the SOG team raided Room No. 2 on the second floor of House No. 48, Meena Nagar Co-operative Housing Society, opposite Akhand Anand College in the Chok Bazar area. The operation was conducted under the directions of Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot as part of the city's 'No Drugs in Surat City' campaign, which specifically targets the illegal movement of narcotics from other states.
Who Was Arrested
Police detained Kalucharan Mahanti, 31, and Jitu Pradhan, 21, both originally from Ganjam district, Odisha, and employed locally as zari workers. Along with the 20 kg of prohibited plant-based ganja, officers also seized two mobile phones valued at ₹25,000, bringing the total value of confiscated property to ₹10.25 lakh.
What the Accused Told Investigators
During questioning, the two men allegedly told investigators that they had procured the ganja from a wanted suspect and were en route to deliver the consignment to another absconding accused when the SOG team intercepted them. Police have registered a case at Chok Bazar Police Station under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(C), and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Further investigation to identify and apprehend the remaining members of the alleged supply chain is underway, officials said.
Part of a Wider Crackdown in Gujarat
This seizure is the second significant ganja haul in Surat within two days. In a separate operation in the Mahidharpura area, police recovered more than 20 kg of ganja from another accused allegedly transporting the contraband, taking the combined total from both operations to over 40 kg. The Surat actions follow other recent anti-narcotics drives across Gujarat, including the seizure of 12 kg of hybrid ganja by Ahmedabad's Vatva police and an SOG operation in Himmatnagar, Sabarkantha district, where hybrid ganja was recovered and two suspects arrested. The pattern points to an active and geographically dispersed trafficking network supplying urban Gujarat from eastern states.
What Happens Next
Investigators are focused on tracing the full supply chain, with at least two wanted suspects still at large. The escalating frequency of seizures suggests enforcement pressure is intensifying — but also that supply pipelines remain active. How quickly police can neutralise the upstream network will determine the lasting impact of these operations.
Point of View
Where mobility and cash transactions attract less scrutiny. Surat Police's 'No Drugs in Surat City' campaign is producing results on the street, but the wanted suspects still at large suggest the upstream network remains intact. Until investigators dismantle the procurement end — not just the delivery couriers — seizure numbers will keep rising without the supply actually drying up.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Surat ganja seizure on 1 July 2025?
Surat SOG arrested Kalucharan Mahanti, 31, and Jitu Pradhan, 21, both originally from Ganjam district in Odisha and working as zari workers in Surat. They were detained during a raid at a residential premises in the Chok Bazar area.
How much ganja was seized and what is its value?
Police seized 20 kilograms of ganja valued at ₹10 lakh, along with two mobile phones worth ₹25,000, taking the total value of confiscated property to ₹10.25 lakh.
What law has been invoked against the accused?
A case has been registered at Chok Bazar Police Station under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(C), and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Investigation is ongoing to trace the remaining members of the alleged supply network.
Is this part of a broader anti-drug drive in Gujarat?
Yes. The arrest is part of Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot's 'No Drugs in Surat City' campaign targeting interstate narcotics supply. A parallel Surat operation in Mahidharpura recovered another 20-plus kg of ganja, and recent drives in Ahmedabad and Himmatnagar have also yielded seizures.
What is the total ganja recovered in Surat over the past two days?
The two Surat operations together recovered over 40 kg of ganja within 48 hours, indicating sustained enforcement activity and an active supply chain feeding the city from other states.
