Chhattisgarh drug bust: 4 held with 10 kg cannabis in Mahasamund
Synopsis
A coordinated sting near Arjunda village in Mahasamund caught two couples mid-handover with over 10 kg of cannabis sourced from Odisha — the latest in a three-month crackdown that has already netted 5,779 kg of Ganja across 81 cases, with 160 of 213 arrested coming from outside Chhattisgarh.
Key Takeaways
Four people , including two alleged interstate traffickers, arrested on 30 April 2025 near Arjunda village, Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh .
10.270 kg of cannabis valued at ₹2 lakh seized; total assets worth ₹3.15 lakh confiscated, including two motorcycles and two mobile phones.
Cannabis allegedly sourced from Odisha's Boudh district and intended for retail distribution in Saraipali's Devalbhata area .
Case registered under Section 20(B) of the NDPS Act ; further investigation ongoing to trace wider trafficking network.
In the past three months , Chhattisgarh authorities have seized 5,779.831 kg of cannabis in 81 cases , arresting 213 individuals — 160 from other states.
Four individuals, including two alleged interstate drug traffickers, were arrested on 30 April 2025 after 10.270 kg of cannabis (Ganja) valued at ₹2 lakh was seized in a joint operation by the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) and local police in Mahasamund district, Chhattisgarh. The arrests were confirmed by officials on Saturday, 2 May 2025.
The Accused and How They Were Caught
The four arrested are two couples: Shankar Behera (45), a resident of Saraipali, and his wife Chanchal Behera (30); and Kapil Bakul (23), a resident of Odisha's Boudh district, and his wife Rashmi Bakul (20). Acting on a tip-off received on 30 April, a police team was deployed near Arjunda village under the jurisdiction of Saraipali police station, after intelligence indicated individuals arriving from Odisha were planning to hand over cannabis to a local contact.
According to officials, one individual arrived on an HF Deluxe motorcycle from Padampur Road with a woman riding pillion. Shortly after, a second person arrived on a Hero Glamour motorcycle (Registration No. CG 04 L 1778), carrying a sack placed between himself and a woman. He handed the sack to the first individual before attempting to leave. Police cordoned off the area and apprehended all four on the spot.
Investigators noted that one of the couples had allegedly attempted to evade suspicion by posing as a family travelling together, but their movements drew attention during surveillance.
Seized Contraband and Assets
Upon examination, the plastic sack was found to contain 10 kilograms and 270 grams of cannabis, valued at ₹2,00,000. Authorities additionally seized assets worth ₹3.15 lakh, comprising the two motorcycles used to transport the contraband and two mobile phones believed to have been used to coordinate the operation.
A case has been registered against all four accused under Section 20(B) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Authorities said the cannabis had allegedly been sourced from Odisha and was intended for distribution in the Devalbhata area of Saraipali, with plans to repackage it into smaller retail packets for local sale within Mahasamund district.
Scale of the Interstate Trafficking Problem
The operation is part of a broader crackdown that underscores the scale of the drug trafficking challenge in the region. In the past three months alone, a total of 5,779.831 kg — approximately 57 quintals and 79 kg — of cannabis has been seized across 81 separate cases, with 213 individuals arrested. Of those, 53 are from Chhattisgarh, while 160 belong to other states, pointing to well-organised interstate trafficking networks funnelling contraband into the state.
What Authorities Are Doing Next
The Anti-Narcotics Task Force has been directed to pursue strict and lawful action against the smuggling, transportation, and sale of illicit cannabis, including conducting
Point of View
Confirming that the supply chain runs deep into neighbouring Odisha. The tactic of using couples to pose as ordinary travellers is a well-documented evasion method, suggesting traffickers are adapting faster than routine checkpoints can catch them. The ANTF's directive for 'end-to-end' and financial investigations is the right call — seizing contraband without dismantling the money trail rarely breaks a network. Whether enforcement can keep pace with a supply corridor that has already yielded nearly 58 quintals in 81 cases this quarter remains the critical question.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Mahasamund cannabis bust?
Police seized 10.270 kg of cannabis valued at ₹2 lakh, along with two motorcycles and two mobile phones worth a combined ₹3.15 lakh, during the operation near Arjunda village on 30 April 2025.
Who were the four people arrested in Mahasamund?
The four arrested are two couples — Shankar Behera (45) and his wife Chanchal Behera (30) from Saraipali, and Kapil Bakul (23) and his wife Rashmi Bakul (20) from Odisha's Boudh district. All four face charges under Section 20(B) of the NDPS Act.
Where was the cannabis sourced from?
According to officials, the cannabis was allegedly sourced from Odisha and was intended for distribution in the Devalbhata area of Saraipali in Mahasamund district, Chhattisgarh.
How large is the drug trafficking problem in Chhattisgarh?
In the three months preceding this arrest, Chhattisgarh authorities seized 5,779.831 kg of cannabis across 81 separate cases, arresting 213 individuals — 160 of whom were from states other than Chhattisgarh, indicating an extensive interstate trafficking network.
What legal action has been taken against the accused?
A case has been registered against all four accused under Section 20(B) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Authorities said further investigation is underway to trace other links in the trafficking network.
