Chhattisgarh drug bust: 6 traffickers held, 88 kg cannabis worth ₹44 lakh seized
Synopsis
Six Maharashtra men were arrested on NH 53 in Chhattisgarh after police found 88 kg of cannabis — reportedly sourced from Odisha's Bargarh district — hidden in a pickup truck, with a second car acting as an escort. Total seizures, including two vehicles and mobile phones, topped ₹53 lakh.
Key Takeaways
Mahasamund Police arrested six Maharashtra residents on 1 November 2026 under Operation Nishchay .
88 kg of cannabis worth ₹44 lakh was seized from a pickup truck on National Highway 53 .
Total seized property — contraband, two vehicles, cash and phones — valued at ₹53.73 lakh .
The consignment allegedly originated in Katamal, Bargarh district, Odisha and was destined for Maharashtra .
A case has been registered under the NDPS Act (Crime No.
210/2026 ); all six accused are in judicial custody.
Investigators are tracing the network's financial links and distribution chain across three states.
Mahasamund Police in Chhattisgarh arrested six interstate drug traffickers from Maharashtra on 1 November 2026 and seized 88 kilograms of cannabis valued at approximately ₹44 lakh, in a coordinated crackdown under Operation Nishchay. The joint operation by the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) and Patewa Police also netted vehicles, cash, and mobile phones, bringing the total value of seized property to ₹53.73 lakh.
How the Operation Unfolded
The bust was triggered by specific intelligence indicating that cannabis was being ferried in a pickup vehicle escorted by a separate car. Acting on the tip-off, police established a blockade on National Highway 53, in front of Patewa Police Station. A Maruti Swift Dzire bearing registration number MH-46 X-5682 was stopped first; three occupants were questioned but no contraband was found. Shortly afterwards, officers intercepted a white pickup truck bearing registration number MH-21 BH-9873 and discovered 88 kg of cannabis packed in three plastic sacks.
The Accused and the Trafficking Route
The six arrested persons — Siddharth Dandey, Sachin Madan Sonawani, Badrinath Prahlad Khurmute, Shankar Tukaram Dige, Vishal Santosh Khade, and Deepak Kharse — are all residents of Maharashtra. According to police, three were allegedly transporting the contraband in the pickup vehicle while the remaining three served as an escort in the Swift Dzire. The consignment had reportedly been sourced from Katamal in Bargarh district, Odisha, and was being routed to Maharashtra for distribution — pointing to an established inter-state supply chain spanning at least three states.
What Was Seized
Beyond the cannabis, police recovered the pickup vehicle worth ₹5 lakh, the Swift Dzire worth ₹4 lakh, ₹28,600 in cash, and seven mobile phones valued at ₹45,000. A case has been registered under Sections 20(b) and 29(1) of the NDPS Act at Patewa Police Station (Crime No. 210/2026), and all six accused have been remanded to judicial custody.
Investigation and Broader Context
Authorities say the probe is continuing to map the source, destination, and financial links of the trafficking network. This comes amid a broader pattern of Odisha-origin cannabis being routed through central Indian highway corridors — a route that law enforcement agencies have flagged repeatedly. The use of an escort vehicle alongside the primary carrier is a tactic increasingly associated with organised drug distribution networks, according to officials. The Mahasamund bust underscores the persistent challenge of policing multi-state narcotics corridors along NH 53.
Point of View
Not opportunistic trafficking. The Odisha-to-Maharashtra cannabis corridor has appeared in multiple busts this year, suggesting a structural gap in inter-state narcotics coordination that single-district operations cannot close. Until ANTF-level intelligence is systematically shared across Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra police, traffickers will keep exploiting the seam. The ₹53 lakh in total seizures is significant for a district operation, but the bigger question is whether the financial thread leads anywhere beyond the six couriers now in custody.
NationPress
1 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Mahasamund drug bust on 1 November 2026?
Police seized 88 kg of cannabis worth approximately ₹44 lakh , along with two vehicles, ₹28,600 in cash, and seven mobile phones. The total value of all seized property stands at ₹53.73 lakh .
Who were the six accused arrested in the Chhattisgarh drug case?
The six arrested persons are Siddharth Dandey , Sachin Madan Sonawani , Badrinath Prahlad Khurmute , Shankar Tukaram Dige , Vishal Santosh Khade , and Deepak Kharse — all residents of Maharashtra . Three allegedly transported the cannabis while three operated an escort vehicle.
Where did the cannabis come from and where was it headed?
According to police, the cannabis was reportedly sourced from Katamal in Bargarh district, Odisha and was being transported to Maharashtra for distribution, indicating a multi-state trafficking route.
Under which law have the accused been charged?
A case has been registered under Sections 20(b) and 29(1) of the NDPS Act at Patewa Police Station (Crime No. 210/2026 ). All six accused have been remanded to judicial custody.
What is Operation Nishchay?
Operation Nishchay is a joint anti-narcotics operation conducted by the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) and Patewa Police in Chhattisgarh. The operation targets interstate drug trafficking networks, particularly along major highway corridors like National Highway 53 .
