MP Police seize 60 quintals of cannabis worth ₹3 crore in Khargone
Synopsis
Madhya Pradesh Police used drones to locate and destroy 15,191 cannabis plants worth ₹3 crore in the remote villages of Khargone — one of the district's biggest-ever drug busts. The operation, part of a five-day statewide crackdown, highlights how aerial surveillance is reshaping anti-narcotics enforcement in terrain that has long shielded illegal cultivation.
Key Takeaways
Madhya Pradesh Police seized 15,191 cannabis plants weighing 5,974 kg (nearly 60 quintals ) in Khargone district on 29 September .
The haul, spread across Jamli and Guwada Thata Faliya villages, is valued at approximately ₹3 crore .
Drone surveillance was used to identify plantations in areas with no mobile network connectivity.
The operation was part of Operation Prahar , a five-day statewide crackdown on narcotics cultivation and smuggling.
Total narcotics and property seized across Madhya Pradesh during the crackdown exceeded ₹3.91 crore .
Cases have been registered under the NDPS Act ; investigations are ongoing.
Madhya Pradesh Police seized nearly 60 quintals of illegally cultivated cannabis worth approximately ₹3 crore from two villages in Khargone district, in what officials described as one of the largest such operations in the district's history. The seizure, carried out on 29 September under Operation Prahar, involved drone surveillance to locate plantations in remote areas with no mobile network connectivity.
Scale of the Seizure
A total of 15,191 cannabis plants weighing 5,974 kg (59.74 quintals) were recovered from two locations — Jamli and Guwada Thata Faliya villages. At Jamli, police seized 9,391 plants weighing 3,765 kg, valued at ₹1.88 crore. At Guwada Thata Faliya, a further 5,800 plants weighing 2,209 kg and valued at ₹1.10 crore were recovered.
How Police Reached the Sites
Teams navigated rivers, hilly terrain, and difficult routes to access the remote plantations. According to officials, drone surveillance was critical in identifying and mapping the cultivation sites before ground teams moved in. The use of aerial technology to combat narcotics cultivation in connectivity-dead zones marks a notable operational shift for Madhya Pradesh Police.
Operation Prahar: Statewide Crackdown
The Khargone action was part of a five-day statewide crackdown targeting the illegal cultivation, transportation, and smuggling of narcotic substances. Across multiple districts, police operations during the period resulted in the seizure of narcotics and property worth more than ₹3.91 crore, according to officials.
In Indore, police recovered 65 grams of MD drugs in two operations conducted within 24 hours, alongside separate brown sugar seizures by local police and the Crime Branch. Narsinghpur Police seized 60.04 grams of smack and arrested two alleged traffickers, also recovering a motorcycle allegedly used in the crime. In Gwalior, two persons were arrested and 13.128 kg of cannabis — allegedly sourced from Odisha for sale in Dabra — was recovered. Police in Panna, Damoh, and Shivpuri also reported cannabis seizures and arrests during the crackdown period.
Legal Action and Investigation
Cases have been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in connection with the Khargone seizures, and investigations are ongoing, police said. Officials confirmed that action against illegal narcotic cultivation, transportation, and smuggling is continuing across Madhya Pradesh.
With Operation Prahar still active across the state, further seizures and arrests are expected in the coming days as police extend the crackdown to additional districts.
Point of View
Terrain-shielded districts has long outpaced conventional policing. The deployment of drones in areas with no mobile connectivity is a meaningful tactical upgrade, but the absence of arrests in the primary Khargone operation raises questions about whether the supply chain — growers, transporters, financiers — is being dismantled or merely disrupted. Statewide crackdowns that yield impressive seizure figures without commensurate arrests and prosecutions risk becoming a recurring headline with diminishing deterrent effect.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Khargone cannabis operation?
Madhya Pradesh Police seized 15,191 cannabis plants weighing 5,974 kg — nearly 60 quintals — valued at approximately ₹3 crore from two villages, Jamli and Guwada Thata Faliya, in Khargone district. It is described as one of the largest such operations in the district.
What is Operation Prahar?
Operation Prahar is a Madhya Pradesh Police initiative targeting the illegal cultivation, transportation, and smuggling of narcotic substances across the state. The Khargone seizure was part of a five-day statewide crackdown conducted under this operation.
How did police locate the cannabis plantations in remote areas?
Police used drone surveillance to identify and map cannabis plantations in areas with no mobile network connectivity. Ground teams then reached the sites by navigating rivers, hilly terrain, and difficult routes.
What other seizures were made during the five-day crackdown?
Across Madhya Pradesh, narcotics and property worth more than ₹3.91 crore were seized during the five-day operation. Notable actions included MD drug recoveries in Indore, smack seizures in Narsinghpur, and a 13.128 kg cannabis haul in Gwalior allegedly sourced from Odisha.
What legal action has been taken following the Khargone seizure?
Cases have been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in connection with the Khargone seizures. Investigations are ongoing, according to police officials.
