Surat Police seize ₹17.39 lakh hybrid ganja in Adajan, one arrested
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Special Operations Group (SOG) of Surat City Police in Gujarat arrested a 35-year-old man and seized 497 grams of prohibited hybrid ganja valued at ₹17.39 lakh during an intelligence-led operation in the Adajan area on 18 June 2025. The action forms part of the city police's sustained 'No Drugs in Surat City' campaign, officials confirmed.
How the Operation Unfolded
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, SOG personnel deployed a surveillance team near Shilalekh Apartment on Circus Road in Adajan on the evening of 18 June. Officers intercepted Raviraj Marvaniya, a diamond artisan residing in the Chok Bazaar area of Surat and originally from Junagadh district, who was travelling on a two-wheeler.
A search conducted in the presence of independent witnesses led to the recovery of a suspicious substance concealed in a plastic bag. An officer from the Forensic Science Laboratory examined the material at the scene and confirmed it was hybrid ganja, a prohibited narcotic substance.
What Was Seized
Police recovered the 497-gram narcotics consignment valued at ₹17,39,500. In addition, officers seized ₹17,200 in cash, a two-wheeler worth ₹75,000, and a mobile phone valued at ₹10,000. The total value of all seized property was estimated at ₹18,41,700.
Notably, the recovered handset was found to contain two active WhatsApp accounts linked to international virtual telephone numbers — a detail investigators are treating as significant in tracing the supply network.
The Accused and the Supply Chain
During questioning, Marvaniya allegedly told investigators that he had obtained the narcotics from a person identified as Parth alias A.T. in the Katargam area and was transporting the consignment for delivery when he was apprehended. Police have declared the supplier a wanted individual and launched efforts to trace him.
A case has been registered at Adajan Police Station on a complaint lodged by SOG Police Inspector J.M. Parmar, under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Broader Anti-Narcotics Drive
The operation was carried out under the directions of Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot, who launched the 'No Drugs in Surat City' campaign to curb trafficking and distribution of narcotic substances across the city. Further investigation is underway under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police (SOG) Rajdeepsinh Nakum.
This bust underscores the growing enforcement focus on hybrid cannabis variants, which command significantly higher street values than conventional narcotics and are increasingly linked to international supply chains, according to law enforcement officials.