Cannabis smuggling via truck from Odisha

Crime Branch arrests 3

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Three individuals who were smuggling cannabis by taking a truck to Odisha and bringing back contraband on the return journey were arrested by police on Monday.

Police seized goods, including 4.87 kg of marijuana, a truck, mobile phones, and cash worth Rs 16.20 lakh from the three accused.

Senior Police Inspector Gajanan Kalyankar said that the Crime Branch team conducted a raid at Chamunda Enterprises in Karodi Shivar and carried out this action.

The accused have been identified as Shaikh Mohd Khalid Naim (Sadatnagar, Satara), Shaikh Aqil alias Papdi Sk Salim (Jahagirdar Colony, Railway Station, Rajivnagar) and Mohammad Mansoor Shaikh (Sadatnagar, Satara).

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How operation unfolded

According to police, Crime Branch PSI Sandeep Kale received information that cannabis was being brought from Odisha in a truck arriving at Chamunda Enterprises.

Acting on a tip-off, a team comprising police personnel Sandeep Tayde, Kailas Kakad, Yogesh Navsare, Rahul Bangale, Amol Mugale, Shaikh Juned, Akshay Natkar, Sagar Salve, Taterao Shingare and Dadasaheb Jhargad raided Chamunda Enterprises in Karodi Shivar.

The truck (MH-17, BY-6974) was searched and 4.873 kg of cannabis was found inside. All three accused were arrested and a case was registered at Daulatabad Police Station.

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1 accused already externed

Of the three accused, Shaikh Aqil alias Papdi is a habitual offender on the record with 7 to 8 cases registered against him, including a previous NDPS case at Satara Police Station. He had been externed for two years in August 2024, with the order valid until August 2026. It has now come to light that he violated the externment order and illegally entered the city during this period.