Massive Narcotic Crop Seizure in Bhavnagar: Over Rs 10.92 Crore Confiscated
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Bhavnagar, Feb 23 (NationPress) The Sihor Police in the Bhavnagar district have confiscated narcotic crops and associated items valued at over Rs 10.92 crore following the discovery of illicit cultivation in the border area between Sakhvadar and Sar villages, as reported by officials on Monday.
The operation took place at an orchard located on a hillside in Sihor taluka after receiving a precise tip-off.
Authorities were alerted to the illegal farming of opium and ganja at an orchard owned by two siblings.
In response to the intelligence, a police unit executed a raid early Sunday morning.
During the raid, law enforcement officers confiscated 1,087.52 kilograms of green opium poppy plants valued at Rs 10,86,98,000, along with 26 kilograms of dried poppy husk worth Rs 3,90,900, and 19 kilograms of green ganja plants valued at Rs 1,91,400.
Additionally, two mobile phones valued at Rs 5,000 were recovered. Other items taken included three mats, Aadhaar cards, copies of Village Form 8-A land records for two survey numbers, a light bulb, a saree, and a plastic bag.
The total estimated worth of the seized narcotics amounts to Rs 10,92,85,300.
The suspects have been identified as Sanjaybhai Chauhan, 55, and Boghabhai Chauhan, 53, both farmers and residents of the Sakhvadar village boundary in Sihor taluka.
An FIR has been filed against them under Sections 8(B), 8(C), 15(B), 18(B), 20(A), 20(B)(II), and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Further legal action is currently in progress.
This seizure is part of a series of recent anti-drug operations conducted across Gujarat.
On February 18, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad and the Indian Coast Guard intercepted an Iranian-registered speedboat approximately 140 nautical miles off Porbandar during a collaborative maritime operation.
Authorities reported the recovery of around 203 kilograms of suspected narcotics and the arrest of two Iranian nationals.
In a separate incident, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force of the CID crime unit in Ahmedabad seized 30.60 grams of mephedrone valued at approximately Rs 91,800 during a raid in the Khadia area on February 17.
One individual was apprehended at the location, while two others were named in the complaint as investigations persist to identify the source and distribution network of the drugs.