KALYAN: In a major anti-narcotics crackdown, Thane Police have dismantled an inter-state ganja supply chain stretching nearly 1,800 km from Maharashtra to the forests of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Thirteen people, including wholesale suppliers and peddlers, have been arrested, and over 115 kg of ganja seized.
Racket Trail from Forest to City
Police said the network sourced ganja from remote forest regions along the Andhra Pradesh–Odisha border, where some villagers cultivated it. The accused then smuggled the consignments into Mumbai, Thane, Pune, and Solapur.
To evade detection in areas with no mobile network, the smugglers relied on walkie-talkie devices and used multiple vehicles to transport the contraband.
Breakthrough Arrests & Forest Raid
The case first surfaced when two local suppliers, Babar Sheikh and Gufran Sheikh, were caught selling ganja in Ambivli, near Kalyan. Acting on leads, a special team under DCP Atul Zende and senior inspector Amarnath Waghmode traced the supply chain across Badlapur, Pune, and Solapur, eventually reaching Visakhapatnam.
With help from local police, officers laid a trap in the forest, seizing the consignment. During the raid, suspects allegedly tried to threaten police with a revolver but were quickly overpowered.
Seizures & Value
Apart from the ganja, police recovered two walkie-talkie sets, a revolver with two live cartridges, and five vehicles, together valued at ₹80 lakh.
Police Speak
“This network was funnelling ganja from Visakhapatnam forests into Maharashtra. By cutting off the source, we have dealt a major blow,” said DCP Zende. Additional commissioner of police (East) Sanjay Jadhav called it the result of “sustained efforts to reach the root of the supply chain.”
Wider Crackdown
Over the last six months, Thane Police’s anti-narcotics drive has registered 60 cases, arrested more than 100 people, and seized drugs worth several crores in the Kalyan-Dombivli region. The latest bust is being hailed as a milestone in dismantling one of Maharashtra’s largest inter-state ganja networks.
