धुळे जिल्ह्यात ९३ लाख ५० हजारांचा ३७४ किलो गांजा जप्त; मक्याच्या...
धुळे जिल्ह्यातील शिरपूर तालुक्यातील जमाईपाडा येथे थाळनेर पोलीस ठाण्याच्या पथकाने धडक कारवाई करत तब्बल ९३ लाख ५० हजार रुपये किमतीचा ३७४ किलो गांजा जप्त...
By GT24x7 Reporter··GlobalToday24x7
In a major anti-narcotics enforcement operation, the Thalner police team seized 374 kilograms of cannabis (ganja) valued at approximately ₹93.5 lakh in the remote tribal belt of Dhule district, Maharashtra. The raid took place in the Jamaipada forest enclave located within Shirpur taluka on Wednesday, August 27, 2026. Acted upon specific intelligence regarding illegal cultivation on protected forest lands, police teams executed a surprise raid in the terrain, uncovering a large-scale clandestine narcotics farming operation hidden within regular agricultural crops.
Upon reaching the designated site, law enforcement officers discovered that live cannabis plants were systematically inter-cropped within dense maize fields to evade detection from aerial surveys and routine patrols. The suspect, identified as Ravindra Khumsing Pawara, had used the tall maize stalks as a natural green cover to cultivate the illegal crop. During the raid, police uprooted and confiscated hundreds of fully grown cannabis plants weighing 374 kilograms, which carries an estimated market valuation of ₹93.5 lakh. The suspect managed to escape into the surrounding dense forest area when police approached, prompting an intensive search operation.
Modus Operandi and Legal Proceedings
The raid highlights a growing trend of inter-cropping narcotics inside routine agricultural fields across remote forest sectors. Investigating officers noted that the suspect deliberately chose the remote enclave of Jamaipada due to its tough hilly geography and limited accessibility, aiming to supply the harvested produce to drug trafficking networks operating across northern Maharashtra and adjoining state borders.
A formal criminal case has been registered against Ravindra Khumsing Pawara at the Thalner police station under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Specialized police squads, alongside local crime branch units, have been dispatched to track down the fleeing suspect across regional hideouts.
Regional Anti-Narcotics Drive and Vigilance
This successful operation forms part of a broader, ongoing campaign by the Maharashtra Police and local law enforcement to eradicate illegal narcotics production across rural enclaves. Senior district police officials commended the inspection team for executing the raid under difficult geographic conditions.
Authorities have issued strict warnings to local landowners and forest dwellers regarding the legal consequences of unauthorized crop cultivation. Furthermore, district police officials announced that surveillance across remote forest enclaves and agricultural belts along border areas will be intensified to curb narcotics trafficking and dismantle local distribution channels.