Pune: The Pune city police's Anti Narcotic Cell (west) (ANC) attached to the Crime Branch has seized 850 kgs of marijuana and 7.5 kgs of cannabis worth Rs 8.10 crore on Wednesday.
The narcotic substances were seized after police led a trap on Solapur-Naldurg Road.
Sub-Inspector Nilesh Mahadik of the Anti-Narcotics Cell apprehended two suspects and recovered with 56 grams of Methamphetamine (MD) which is estimated worth Rs 2.10 crore. The news came into light just two days before June 26, a day which is observed International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The drug is seized for the second time in the city. Earlier 12 grams of this drug was detained. Further investigation is going on to probe about is there any history-sheeter involvement in the case.
In 2019, Pune police had registered 119 cases of drug seizure worth Rs three crores and arrested 157 suspects. It was the biggest drug seizure in the last 10 years. Out of this, ANC of crime branch carried out various 94 raids, arrested 123 suspects with confiscation of narcotic substances worth Rs 2.85 crore.
In 2020, Pune police filed 41 cases under the Narcotic Drug Prevention Substance (NDPS). In 41 cases that are been registered 59 suspects has been arrested including two Nigerians. Total seizure of 150 kilograms of marijuana, 69 gms of MD, 112gms of cannabis, 368 gms of cocaine, totalling estimated worth of Rs 50 lakh.
Out of this 21 cases were carried by ANC cell of crime branch, 30 suspects were arrested, 139 kg cannabis, 68 gms MD, 112 gms of cannabis, 370 gms cocaine, totalling to Rs 36.2 lakh.
Speaking to Sakal Times, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Bachchan Singh said, "In all the cases registered by the crime branch, we try to collect all the linkages in order to curtail the spread of the crime. The main motive of our Anti-Narcotics Cell attached to our crime branch is continuing to make Pune a drug free city."
