Narcotics worth ₹1.01 crore seized in Jharkhand's Chatra, 3 interstate smugglers held
Synopsis
A coordinated two-operation sweep by Chatra police in Jharkhand netted over ₹1.01 crore in opium, doda, and poppy seeds — and exposed an interstate trafficking network allegedly run by a local mastermind supplying contraband to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. With 400-plus kg recovered from a forest hideout alone, the scale signals organised syndicate activity, not small-time peddling.
Key Takeaways
Chatra district police seized narcotics worth ₹1.01 crore across two operations on 25 May 2025 .
Contraband included 7 kg 196 g of opium , 78.4 kg of doda (Operation 1) and 361 kg 52 g of doda , plus poppy seeds (Operation 2).
Three accused arrested: Jivlal Ganzhu (alleged mastermind), Mohammad Faizan Malik , and Kailash Ganzhu ; five others remain at large.
Ganzhu allegedly sourced opium locally and supplied it to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar via Malik.
Cases registered under the NDPS Act at Lawalong police station; raids are continuing.
Police in Chatra district, Jharkhand, seized opium, doda, and poppy seeds collectively valued at approximately ₹1.01 crore in two separate anti-narcotics operations conducted over the weekend, officials confirmed on Monday, 25 May. Three interstate smugglers — including the alleged mastermind of the trafficking network — were arrested, while five others managed to evade the raiding teams.
Key Developments
Chatra Superintendent of Police Animesh Naithani addressed a press conference at the Collectorate office, disclosing details of both operations and confirming the combined estimated value of the seized contraband at ₹1.01 crore.
In the first operation, a special raiding team was constituted under Simaria Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Nagar Goje Shubham Bhau Saheb after police received specific intelligence about illegal opium trade near Bajrahi Maidan on the Bagra-Chatra Road. As the team moved in, the traffickers attempted to flee. Two accused were apprehended: Jivlal Ganzhu, a resident of Lutidih in Simaria, and Mohammad Faizan Malik of Ichak Kala.
Police recovered a TVS Luna motorcycle with 7 kg 196 grams of opium concealed in its storage compartment, along with two mobile phones. A follow-up search at Ganzhu's residence yielded a further 78.4 kg of doda stored in three sacks.
The Alleged Mastermind and the Smuggling Network
According to SP Naithani, Jivlal Ganzhu is believed to be the mastermind of the interstate smuggling operation. Investigators say Ganzhu sourced opium locally and routed it to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and other states through his associate Malik. Two other accused — Haider Khan alias Diwan and Dilawar Khan — escaped during the raid and remain at large, with police continuing searches to apprehend them.
Second Operation: Forest Hideout Busted
In a separate late-night raid, a team again led by SDPO Shubham Bhau Saheb targeted the Ichahar forest under Lawalong police station limits, acting on intelligence that a large doda consignment was stockpiled there and awaiting transport via a pickup van.
Of the four traffickers guarding the cache, one — Kailash Ganzhu — was arrested, while three others fled under cover of darkness. Based on disclosures by the arrested accused, police raided three separate hideouts within the forest and recovered 361 kg 52 grams of doda, 23 kg 820 grams of a doda-poppy seed mixture, and 25 kg 290 grams of poppy seeds. The seizure from this operation alone is estimated at around ₹54 lakh in the international market.
A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Lawalong police station. The operation was led by Lawalong police station in-charge Vidhayak Prasad Yadav and Sub-Inspector Wajid Ali, supported by armed police personnel. The first operation involved Simaria Circle Officer, Station House Officer Surya Pratap Singh, and NDPS police station in-charge Mohammad Shami Ansari.
Context and Significance
Chatra district, located in the Palamu division of Jharkhand, has historically been flagged as a transit corridor for narcotics moving between central India and the populous states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. This is among the larger single-district seizures recorded in the region in recent months, and the scale of the forest stockpile — over 400 kg of contraband across multiple hideouts — points to a well-organised supply chain rather than opportunistic trafficking. Authorities have indicated that investigations are ongoing and further arrests are expected.
Point of View
Storage infrastructure, and inter-state distribution channels. Chatra's position as a transit corridor between central India and Bihar-UP has been known to enforcement agencies for years, yet the network evidently operated long enough to accumulate a ₹54 lakh forest stockpile. The five accused still at large, including two named fugitives, will determine whether this is a decisive bust or a temporary disruption. The NDPS case at Lawalong is a starting point — the real test is whether investigators trace the supply chain upstream.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Chatra narcotics operation?
Police seized opium, doda, and poppy seeds collectively valued at approximately ₹1.01 crore across two operations. The contraband included 7 kg 196 g of opium and 78.4 kg of doda from the first raid, and over 361 kg of doda along with poppy seeds from a forest hideout in the second.
Who was arrested in the Chatra drug bust?
Three people were arrested: Jivlal Ganzhu, described by police as the alleged mastermind of the interstate smuggling network; Mohammad Faizan Malik, his alleged distribution associate; and Kailash Ganzhu, who was guarding the forest stockpile. Five others, including Haider Khan alias Diwan and Dilawar Khan, remain at large.
How did the interstate drug network allegedly operate?
According to Chatra SP Animesh Naithani, Jivlal Ganzhu sourced opium locally in the Chatra region and supplied it to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and other states through his associate Mohammad Faizan Malik. The network used concealed vehicle compartments and forest hideouts for storage and transport.
What law has been invoked and where was the case filed?
A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Lawalong police station in Chatra district. Investigations are ongoing and further arrests are expected.
Why is Chatra significant in drug trafficking routes?
Chatra district in Jharkhand's Palamu division is considered a transit corridor for narcotics moving between central India and the populous states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The scale of the forest stockpile recovered — over 400 kg across multiple hideouts — suggests an organised supply chain with established inter-state distribution links.
