West Bengal Police seize 43 kg marijuana, heroin in twin drug raids across two districts
Synopsis
West Bengal Police unearthed 43 kg of marijuana buried under a house floor in Jhargram and seized 324 gm of heroin worth ₹37 lakh in Murshidabad — both on the same day. The dual bust is part of a state-driven crackdown that yielded 378 arrests, ₹64 crore in narcotics, and 68 financial probes in just eight days.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal Police seized 43 kg 222 gm of marijuana from a buried stash at Chandipur village, Jhargram on 8 November 2026 ; accused Biswajit Shil arrested.
324 gm of heroin worth approximately ₹37 lakh was recovered from Muhammad Mahfuz Alam at Lalgola, Murshidabad ; his phone and motorcycle also seized.
Both accused have been booked under the NDPS Act, 1985 ; police are pursuing leads on wider supply networks.
A statewide Special Drive from 31 October to 7 November made 378 arrests across 212 NDPS cases , seizing narcotics worth ₹64 crore .
Authorities destroyed 10,000 kg of illicit marijuana cultivation and launched 68 financial investigations against 110 accused during the same period.
West Bengal Police recovered large quantities of marijuana and heroin from two separate locations across two districts on 8 November 2026, arresting two individuals under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The seizures come amid a statewide special anti-narcotics drive that the state government says has netted 378 arrests across 212 NDPS cases in just eight days.
Marijuana Buried Underground in Jhargram
The first seizure unfolded in the early hours of Sunday at Chandipur village under the jurisdiction of Jhargram Police Station in Jhargram district. Acting on a tip-off, officers conducted a raid at the residence of Biswajit Shil. An initial sweep of the premises turned up nothing, but investigators grew suspicious upon noticing the uneven floor of the house.
Upon digging into the soil, officers unearthed three sacks arranged in rows, each packed with marijuana. A total of 43 kg and 222 gm of marijuana was recovered, confirmed Jhargram Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Rishabhraj Dev. Shil has been arrested and booked under the NDPS Act.
Heroin Worth ₹37 Lakh Seized in Murshidabad
In a separate operation the same day, police arrested Muhammad Mahfuz Alam at Lalgola in Murshidabad district after recovering 324 gm of heroin from his possession. Authorities estimate the street value of the seized heroin at approximately ₹37 lakh.
Investigators also seized Alam's mobile phone and motorcycle. He is currently being questioned, with police working to identify and trace his associates in the alleged supply network. He too has been booked under the NDPS Act, 1985.
Eight-Day Statewide Anti-Drug Drive: Key Figures
The twin arrests follow a statewide Special Drive conducted from 31 October to 7 November, details of which were highlighted by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in a social media post on Saturday. According to Adhikari, the drive resulted in 378 arrests across 212 NDPS cases, with illicit narcotics valued at ₹64 crore seized — along with ₹17 lakh in cash.
Separately, drugs worth ₹101 crore that had already been seized were reportedly disposed of during the period. Authorities also destroyed illicit marijuana cultivation amounting to 10,000 kg, attached ₹1 crore in property, and launched 68 financial investigations against 110 accused.
Government Claims Zero-Tolerance Stance
Chief Minister Adhikari credited the results to what he described as a zero-tolerance approach by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. 'I commend our police personnel for their relentless commitment to keeping West Bengal safe and drug-free in line with the #NashaMuktBharat Abhiyan,' Adhikari said in his post.
Notably, West Bengal has seen recurring drug seizures along its border districts, particularly those adjoining Jharkhand and the Bangladesh frontier near Murshidabad — a corridor that investigators have flagged as a persistent smuggling route. The scale of the ongoing drive and the financial investigations now underway suggest authorities are attempting to dismantle supply chains, not merely intercept individual consignments.
Further arrests are likely as questioning of both accused continues and investigators pursue leads on wider networks.
Point of View
But the structural question is whether financial investigations — only 68 launched against 110 accused — will translate into prosecutions that actually dismantle supply chains. West Bengal's border geography, with porous routes from Jharkhand and the Bangladesh frontier, makes it a recurring transit corridor; seizure tallies have risen before without sustained network disruption. The ₹101 crore in drugs disposed of during the drive also warrants scrutiny — independent verification of destruction procedures remains a persistent gap in Indian drug enforcement. The real measure of this crackdown will be conviction rates and asset-recovery outcomes, not kilogram counts.
NationPress
8 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What drugs were seized by West Bengal Police on 8 November 2026?
Police seized 43 kg and 222 gm of marijuana from Chandipur village in Jhargram district, and 324 gm of heroin worth approximately ₹37 lakh from Lalgola in Murshidabad district, both on the same day. Two individuals were arrested in connection with the seizures.
How was the marijuana found in Jhargram?
Officers raiding the residence of Biswajit Shil found nothing initially, but grew suspicious of the uneven floor. After digging into the soil, they recovered three sacks arranged in rows containing a total of 43 kg and 222 gm of marijuana.
Who was arrested in the Murshidabad heroin case?
Muhammad Mahfuz Alam was arrested at Lalgola in Murshidabad with 324 gm of heroin on his person. Police also seized his mobile phone and motorcycle; he is being questioned to identify his associates.
What were the results of West Bengal's statewide anti-drug drive?
The Special Drive from 31 October to 7 November 2026 resulted in 378 arrests across 212 NDPS cases, narcotics worth ₹64 crore seized, ₹17 lakh in cash recovered, 10,000 kg of illicit marijuana cultivation destroyed, ₹1 crore in property attached, and 68 financial investigations launched against 110 accused.
Under which law were the accused booked?
Both Biswajit Shil and Muhammad Mahfuz Alam were booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, which governs offences related to illegal drug possession, trafficking, and trade in India.
