967 cannabis plants worth ₹1.72 crore seized near Gujarat-Rajasthan border
Synopsis
Sabarkantha's Local Crime Branch cracked a concealed cannabis farm near the Gujarat-Rajasthan border, uprooting 967 plants worth ₹1.72 crore hidden inside cotton fields. One accused is under arrest; two remain at large. The bust highlights a recurring enforcement challenge — hilly, isolated border terrain that traffickers exploit to shield illicit cultivation from detection.
Key Takeaways
967 cannabis plants weighing 345.6 kg , valued at ₹1.72 crore , were seized in Kotda Gadhi village , Sabarkantha, on 1 October 2026 .
The plants were allegedly intercropped with cotton to conceal them from detection.
Raychandbhai Ramabhai Gamar, 25 , has been arrested; Jaga Rama Gamar and Rava Punabhai Gamar remain at large.
A case has been registered under Sections 8(c), 20(a)(1), 20(b)(2-C) and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985 at Kheroj Police Station.
Three soil and three control samples were collected for forensic analysis during the raid.
The operation is part of Sabarkantha's ongoing 'Drug-Free Sabarkantha' and 'Say No to Drugs' missions.
The Local Crime Branch (LCB) of Sabarkantha police in Gujarat has seized 967 cannabis plants weighing 345.6 kg and valued at over ₹1.72 crore, allegedly cultivated under the cover of cotton crops on a farm in Kotda Gadhi village, near the Rajasthan border, on 1 October 2026. The operation forms part of the district's ongoing 'Drug-Free Sabarkantha' and 'Say No to Drugs' missions.
How the Raid Unfolded
The LCB team received a tip during routine patrols in the Kheroj police station area, indicating that Jaga Rama Gamar and family members were allegedly growing cannabis alongside legitimate crops in the Magra Falia area of Kotda Gadhi village. Acting swiftly on the intelligence, officers conducted a search of the agricultural fields and found the cannabis plants intercropped with cotton — a method reportedly used to conceal cultivation from aerial or road-level observation.
Police identified the fields as belonging to Raychandbhai Ramabhai Gamar, Jaga Ramabhai Gamar, and Rava Punabhai Gamar, all residents of Kotda Gadhi village in Poshi taluka. During the operation, the team also collected three soil samples and three control samples for forensic analysis.
Accused and Legal Action
Raychandbhai Ramabhai Gamar, 25, has been arrested in connection with the case. Jaga Rama Gamar and Rava Punabhai Gamar are yet to be apprehended, and a search is reportedly underway. A case has been registered at Kheroj Police Station under Sections 8(c), 20(a)(1), 20(b)(2-C) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Further investigation and legal proceedings are currently underway, according to police.
Why the Border Region Poses a Challenge
Sabarkantha police acknowledged that detecting illegal cultivation along the district's Rajasthan border is particularly difficult due to hilly terrain, isolated farm locations away from main roads, and sparse human movement in the area. The LCB said its personnel are increasingly relying on a combination of human intelligence, technical surveillance, and field verification to identify and act against such cultivation networks.
This comes amid a broader push by senior district officials to intensify action against narcotics-related activities in the region. Notably, the use of cotton fields as a cover for cannabis cultivation is a pattern that enforcement agencies across border districts of Gujarat have flagged as a growing operational challenge.
What Happens Next
With two accused still at large, investigators are expected to continue their pursuit while forensic analysis of the collected samples is completed. The seizure — among the larger individual hauls recorded in Sabarkantha this year — is likely to put pressure on the LCB to maintain momentum as part of its district-wide anti-narcotics drive.
Point of View
But it also signals that periodic high-profile seizures alone won't dent organised cultivation networks. A sustained intelligence-led approach — not just mission branding — is what border districts need.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Sabarkantha cannabis bust?
Sabarkantha police seized 967 cannabis plants weighing 345.6 kg and valued at over ₹1.72 crore from a farm in Kotda Gadhi village near the Rajasthan border on 1 October 2026. The plants were allegedly hidden among cotton crops to avoid detection.
Who has been arrested in the Kotda Gadhi cannabis case?
Raychandbhai Ramabhai Gamar, 25, a resident of Kotda Gadhi village in Poshi taluka, has been arrested in connection with the case. Two others — Jaga Rama Gamar and Rava Punabhai Gamar — are yet to be arrested and are being searched for by police.
Under which law has the case been registered?
A case has been registered at Kheroj Police Station under Sections 8(c), 20(a)(1), 20(b)(2-C) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Further investigation and legal proceedings are currently underway.
Why is cannabis cultivation hard to detect near the Gujarat-Rajasthan border?
Sabarkantha police have cited hilly terrain, isolated farm locations away from main roads, and limited human movement as key factors that make detection difficult in the border region. Enforcement agencies also note that intercropping cannabis with legitimate crops like cotton adds another layer of concealment.
What is the 'Drug-Free Sabarkantha' mission?
The 'Drug-Free Sabarkantha' mission is a district-level policing initiative aimed at curbing the production, transportation, purchase, and sale of narcotic substances in Sabarkantha district. The LCB's raid on Kotda Gadhi was conducted as part of this mission, following directions from senior officials to take strict legal action against those involved in narcotics-related activities.
