Ahmedabad drug bust: 1.975 kg hybrid ganja, Mercedes seized worth ₹79.67 lakh
Synopsis
Ahmedabad's Crime Branch SOG intercepted a Mercedes-Benz near Vijay Cross Roads and recovered 1.975 kg of hybrid ganja worth ₹69.12 lakh from a 26-year-old man. With total seized property at ₹79.67 lakh and preliminary findings pointing to four accused, investigators are now chasing the supply chain that allegedly ran from outside Gujarat into the city.
Key Takeaways
Ahmedabad Crime Branch SOG arrested Hardik Kalal , aged 26 , near Vijay Cross Roads on 20 May 2025 .
1.975 kg of hybrid ganja valued at ₹69.12 lakh was recovered from a Mercedes-Benz car.
Total seized property — including the vehicle and mobile phones — is valued at ₹79.67 lakh .
Preliminary investigation points to four accused persons involved in the alleged trafficking network.
A case has been registered under the NDPS Act at DCB Police Station ; the supply chain is under active investigation.
The Ahmedabad Crime Branch's Special Operations Group (SOG) arrested a 26-year-old man and seized 1.975 kg of hybrid ganja valued at ₹69.12 lakh, along with a Mercedes-Benz and other items totalling ₹79.67 lakh, during a targeted operation near Vijay Cross Roads in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, 20 May. The operation was driven by credible intelligence about narcotics trafficking in the city.
How the Operation Unfolded
Acting on directions from senior officers to intensify anti-drug enforcement, SOG teams led by Police Inspectors K.D. Gohil and A.B. Bhatt conducted patrolling near Memnagar Fire Station, behind the Municipal Garden area. Officers intercepted a Mercedes-Benz on a public road and detained its occupant. The search of the vehicle yielded 1.975 kg of hybrid ganja, along with a mobile phone and other valuables.
Who Was Arrested
The accused has been identified as Hardik Kalal, aged 26, a resident of Swastik Residency, Naranpura, and originally from Dungarpur, Rajasthan. According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) S.S. Ninama, intelligence indicated that Hardik Kalal and one Pradeep Kalal were allegedly involved in bringing hybrid ganja from outside Gujarat for illegal sale in the city.
What Officials Said
ACP Ninama stated that the raid was conducted at the identified location in the presence of independent witnesses. 'During the search of a Mercedes-Benz car, 1.975 kg of hybrid ganja was recovered. Along with the vehicle and mobile phones, property worth ₹79,67,500 was seized. Preliminary investigation suggests the involvement of four accused persons in the offence. Further investigation is underway,' he said.
Case Registered, Wider Network Under Probe
A case has been registered at DCB Police Station under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(b) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Authorities said efforts are ongoing to identify other members of the alleged network and to trace the source and distribution chain of the seized narcotics. Preliminary findings point to at least four accused persons connected to the operation.
This comes amid a broader crackdown on narcotics trafficking in Ahmedabad, with senior officers having specifically directed heightened enforcement in the city in recent weeks.
Point of View
Higher-margin operation. Hybrid ganja commands a significant premium over conventional variants, and the interstate supply chain allegedly running from Rajasthan into Gujarat points to a network that predates this single arrest. The NDPS case names four accused, yet only one is in custody — the pace at which investigators move on the remaining three will determine whether this bust disrupts the network or merely trims its edges.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Ahmedabad drug bust on 20 May 2025?
Police seized 1.975 kg of hybrid ganja valued at ₹69.12 lakh, a Mercedes-Benz car, and a mobile phone — bringing the total value of recovered property to ₹79.67 lakh. The operation was conducted by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch's Special Operations Group near Vijay Cross Roads.
Who was arrested in the Ahmedabad hybrid ganja case?
The arrested accused is Hardik Kalal, a 26-year-old resident of Swastik Residency, Naranpura, originally from Dungarpur, Rajasthan. He was intercepted while driving a Mercedes-Benz on a public road near Memnagar Fire Station.
What is hybrid ganja and why is it significant?
Hybrid ganja refers to a cross-bred, higher-potency variant of cannabis that typically commands a much higher street value than conventional ganja. Its recovery in Ahmedabad suggests a more organised trafficking operation targeting premium buyers in urban markets.
How many people are suspected to be involved in the drug network?
Preliminary investigation by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch suggests at least four accused persons are connected to the offence, according to ACP S.S. Ninama. Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend the remaining suspects and trace the supply chain.
Under which legal sections has the case been registered?
The case has been registered at DCB Police Station under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(b), and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Further investigation is underway.
