Gujarat drug bust: 2,535 kg cannabis tablets worth ₹12.67 crore seized in Vapi, Dadra raids
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Police in Valsad district, Gujarat, have seized 2,535.1 kg of intoxicating tablets laced with cannabis, valued at ₹12.67 crore, following coordinated raids at Vapi and Dadra on 24 October 2026. Two men have been arrested, while two other alleged members of the supply network remain at large.
How the Operation Unfolded
The seizures were carried out jointly by the district police's Anti-Narcotics Wing (ANW) and Special Operation Group (SOG) as part of a targeted investigation into the alleged distribution of narcotic substances across state and union territory lines.
The first raid targeted the residence of Mohammad Amin Mohammad Basu Khan, 46, at Raza Gali, Ahmednagar, in the Chhiri area of Vapi. Officers recovered 387.75 kg of cannabis-containing tablets from the premises, valued at ₹1.93 crore. Khan, originally from Kukurmand village in Chatra district, Jharkhand, had been residing in Vapi.
Larger Cache Found Across the Border in Dadra
During follow-up inquiries, investigators reportedly traced the tablets' supply chain to Pradip alias Mannu Verma, 28, who operated a business out of Shri Sai Complex in Dadra, in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. A subsequent raid at Verma's shop near the Lavachha border on Tidhara Road led to his arrest and the recovery of a further 2,147.35 kg of the tablets, valued at ₹10.73 crore — the bulk of the total haul. Verma is originally from Tirua village in Kannauj district, Uttar Pradesh.
In addition to the tablets, police seized two mobile phones worth ₹10,000 and two electricity bills, bringing the total value of seized property to ₹12,67,65,000.
Two Accused Still Wanted
Police have named two further accused who remain wanted: Anurag Gupta, a resident of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and Salman Iqbal Siddiqui, a resident of Ghatkopar, Mumbai. Both are alleged to have been part of the broader supply network, according to police.
The case has been registered at Dungra police station, Valsad district, on a complaint filed by Police Sub-Inspector R.P. Dodiya of the Anti-Narcotics Wing, in the presence of Police Inspector H.G. Rabari. Further investigation has been handed to Sub-Inspector S.R. Suslade of the Special Operation Group, Valsad, which maintains a camp in Vapi.
Significance of the Seizure
The bust is notable for its cross-jurisdictional scope, spanning Gujarat and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and for the volume involved — over 2.5 tonnes of tablets intended for sale. This comes amid heightened anti-narcotics operations across western India, where border areas between Gujarat and neighbouring union territories have reportedly been flagged as transit corridors for synthetic and cannabis-based substances. The involvement of accused from Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Mumbai points to an inter-state supply chain, which investigators are now looking to dismantle fully.
With two accused still at large, authorities are expected to widen their search beyond Gujarat.